Harvester 10-11, 595 CY
Over the next two days, word spreads of a group of adventurers who thwarted a conspiracy by dopplegangers to take over Greyhawk City. The doppelgangers had replaced nobles, clergy, wealthy merchants, and guildsmen, though official word has it that only the lowest levels of city government were infiltrated.
The party overhears several people talking about a "list" of every conspirator involved, though such a list is never made available for public consumption. Rumors abound that the Greyhawk government is going down the list one-by-one, arresting those who don't resist, & killing those who do. Darker rumors speak of conspirators at higher levels, who are quietly dispatched by the Guild of Assassins, & replaced with their own agents.
For its part, the party begins selling its loot & purchasing & crafting better equipment. They sell the Black Dragon head to Miklos Dare, proprietor of the Black Dragon Inn in Clerkburg. Souf buys many of the various & sundry items from the trophy room, the books from Zyrxog's room, & the jade statue of Lolth. The mundane armor & shields are sold to Zud's Towering Armory. The bizarre cage, kyton chains, petrified pseudodragon, beholder eyestalks, & several magic items are sold to the Wizard's Guild.
They also pay Pateris the Bard, the Mage of Exchange at the Guild of Wizardry, to cast Analyze Dweomer on the magic items found, & he determines a number of them to be cursed, among them the bronze griffon, Hellthorn, & Bloodthirst. The group finds a buyer for Bloodthirst, a berserker sword used in the Stonefist invasion of Tenh during the Greyhawk Wars in Anamon Sid, a collector of magic sword who once owned the famed Blackrazor. The griffon they sell to Pietain Morvannis, manager of the Pit (a fighting ring in the Foreign Quarter), who plans to use the item in gladiatorial contests. Hailleck claims Hellthorn for himself, convincing Reinhart that he'll make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. The other cursed items are exchanged for minor healing & protection magics at the Sanctum of Heironeous as part of their "cursed item buyback program," netting the party a couple of Remove Curse scrolls.
Waterday, Harvester 12, 595 CY
Late that morning, a runner from the Guild of Couriers & Messengers delivers a summons to the party from Eligos. Jethias, Reinhart, Cimmerii, Fin, and Hailleck pay a visit to the sage while Tassilo & Reinhart's followers attend to other business.
Over a light lunch, Eligos tells the party what he has uncovered about the items they left with him and about the Age of Worms. He tells them that the horns found in Zosiel's tomb likely belonged to a demon named Kizarvedexus, who slew Zosiel & was slain in turn by the Wind Duke Icosiol. He tells them that Kyuss was originally a mortal of the ancient Flan kingdom of Sulm, which once stood where the Bright Desert now lies. A priest of Nerull, Kyuss' mastery of the undead eventually led his master to grant him divine status. His best known (& weakest) creations are known as spawn of Kyuss, whose worms can burrow into the brains of the living, transforming their victims into fellow spawn. Kyuss is spoken of in ancient prophies as being the Herald of the Age of Worms, an age of darkness and despair. The Ebon Triad is somehow connected to the Age of Worms as well--perhaps Kyuss is somehow in league with the forces that strive to merge Vecna, Hextor, & Erythnul into a single overgod.
Eligos also tells the party that a friend of his has just arrived and town, a woman named Celeste, who knows someone who has just recently acquired a manager's license for the Champion's Games. He tells them that she will be visiting them soon.
The group thanks Eligos & all but Cimmerii & Jethias leave. Reinhart goes to Silverfox Manor, citing business there, while Hailleck & Fin return to the Blue Dragon. Eligos tells Jethias that they will be visiting the Guild of Wizardry today, as he has just received a letter of reference from Allustan. Though Cimmerii wishes to come along as well, Eligos tells her that such will not be possible, as few non-wizards are allowed entrance. She requests that Jethias try to talk to the librarian, & he agrees.
That afternoon, an Able Carter carriage arrives at Eligo's estate to that the sage, Jethias, & Cimmerii to the Guild of Wizardry in the High Quarter. Cimmerii tells Jethias she'll wait for him in the nearby High Market while he is interviewed.
Eligos & Jethias are greeted by the dwarven porters, the guardians of the Guild of Wizardry, as they enter. "Good afternoon Master Eligos," one says. A porter leads the pair to a room with a long table, where Jethias is introduced to a tall, greying but hale human named Connery. Eligos hands Connery the letter from Allustan, wishes Jethias luck, and bids him farewell.
After reading the letter, the interview begins. Jethias answers many questions pertaining to matters arcane, and even is requested to cast a few spells of a non-destructive nature. After about an hour, Connery is satisfied, and Jethias is granted probationary membership in the guild, which upon he pays the 100 gp entrance fee. Connery then takes the young mage on a tour of the guildhall, their last stop being the library, where Jethias is introduced to the librarian, Jawal Severnain, a drow wizard. After the formalities are over, Jethias asks if he can speak with Jawal privately, and Connery bids him farewell.
Jethias tells Jawal about Cimmerii and asks for his aid.
"And you think somehow that I may be this girl's father?" the librarian coldly replies.
"Well, not exactly. We were wondering mainly if perhaps you had any information on her father. He called himself "Fear" & was also known as "the Accursed."
"So you think we all know each other just because we're drow?"
"No, it's not that--its' just that a man named Derek Ravenclaw in Ery Crossings said you were the only drow he knew of in Greyhawk."
"Hmph. That shows what little he knows. How old is this girl?"
"About twenty," says the young mage.
"Twenty? She'd be but a child."
"Well, not really--see, she's half human."
"Dear boy," replies the drow, "I was appointed to my position over a century ago by Zagig Yragerne himself. I have not left the guild in that entire time, nor have I consorted with humans in that manner my entire life. You'd do best to search elsewhere.
"You mentioned Ravenclaw was wrong about you being the only drow in Greyhawk?"
"Yes. Just a few years ago, they captured a man named Clannair Blackshadow. He hid beneath the city, where he led a gang called the Shapechangers. They would capture people, polymorph them, kill them, then sell the body parts to the former Mage of Exchange, Kondradis Bubka (or so they suspect), for spell components. A favorite was elf blood."
"Where's he now?" asks Jethias.
"Dead. The Shapechangers were captured and executed, and Bubka disappeared--likely he fled the city."
"Oh. Any other drow in Greyhawk?"
"There is one I know of living in Old City--a mage named Landis Bree. You can likely hire someone from the Guild of Messengers to lead you to his home. Aside from Bree, I know of no others currently alive."
Jethias thanks Jawal & finds Cimmerii in the High Market, who has run into Hailleck, who decided to do some shopping before returning to the Blue Dragon.
"Well, did you talk to the librarian?" she asks.
"Yes, but I fear I learned little--though I do believe I've finally met someone who's a bigger dick than I am."
"No!" exclaims Cim in mock disbelief. "What did you learn?"
"He gave me the name of someone in Old City we can talk to.," says Jethias.
"Great! Let's check it . . . "
At that moment, the group is interrupted by a familar voice, at least to the mage.
"Jethias! Jethias!"
Waterday, Harvester 12, 595 CY
Late afternoon, the Blue Dragon Inn
Back in his room at the Blue Dragon, Fin hears a knock upon his door. After checking to make sure everything's safe, he answers the door to find a well-dressed nobleman in his early thirties, tall, with black hair turning to grey.
"Finnigan Nodwick?" he asks.
"Uhh, who's asking?"
"I am Magistrate Reinhold Silverfox. Perhaps you know my younger brother, Reinhart?"
"He's not here right now," replies Fin. "I think he's staying at his aunt's house."
"It's not him, I've come to see," says the magistrate. "I have something that belongs to you."
The magistrate hands find an old, yellowed envelope. Within are several papers from over a decade before, written by Fin's parents, Osric and Iselda, as well as a crude, hand-drawn map, which the papers indicate is a copy. One of the papers is a letter addressed to a man named Phinas Baldrick, apparently a friend of Fin's parents & their family barrister.
The letter reads:
Goodmonth 13, 584 CY
Master Phinas,
As you know, old friend, Iselda and I retired from adventuring some five years past. However, one truly never leaves the life, and the occasional brief forray into the Unknown is to be expected. One such opportunity has recently presented itself, as our old adventuring companions--Lareth and Ayriella Delarion, Pearlina Curlyfoot, and Herschel the Savage--are currently paying a visit to our fair city. Pearlina, it seems, has discovered a map purported by its seller to sketch out the location of an old shrine devoted to Beltar beneath Old City, dating back centuries ago. Ayriella believes this lair may have possibly survived the Explusion of Evil, as her research into the City Archives yielded no information on the lair of the Beltar cult ever being located, though records indicate that members of the cult were definitely executed. Though it may certainly be possible that the map is fake, the Fellowship of Iron agrees that chances are equally good that it is authentic, and will no doubt provide an interesting distraction from our mundane duties.
As is typical in such excursions, in the unlikely event that disaster stikes, we have provided you with information to ensure that the future health and welfare of our son, Finnigan Nodwik, is properly secured. Documents pertaining to Fin's guardianship, trust fund, and inheritance are provided in the accompanying package. Also included is a copy of Peralina's map drawn by Iselda, in order that our effects may be recovered. Should you fail to hear from either Iselda or I by Goodmonth 16, it is safe to assume that the worst has happened, and execution of the attached instructions may commence.
Peace be with you, good friend.
Osric Nodwick
"Where'd you get this stuff?" asks the young rogue.
"Baldrick's office," replies Reinhold. "When your parents failed to return, Finnigan, Baldrick failed to follow their instructions. Instead, he had you put into an orphanage and stole your trust fund & inheritance. Why he did this, & how he was able to get away with such blatently questionable activity, surfaced just two days ago, when Baldrick was discovered to have been a doppleganger. The real Baldrick seems to have been replaced a year before your parents vanished. The false Phinas Baldrick went on to become a city magistrate in 587--In fact, he was my mentor," says Reinhold, sadly. "After the false Baldrick was discovered, I was given the task of putting Baldrick's office back in order, & found the papers hidden in his desk."
"That bastard told me they ran out on me," says Fin, emotion welling within. "I never knew. . . ."
"I am truly sorry for your loss, son, and for bringing you such difficult news, but I thought you'd want to know. In addition, I thought you might be interested in using the map to find out what happened to your parents. It may be possible to recover their bodies and effects."
"Thank you, Judge Reinhold," says Fin.
"Again, I'm sorry for your loss. If you need to get in touch with me, let Reinhart know."
Fin nods as Reinhold leaves.
Waterday, Harvester 12, 595 CY
Late afternoon, the High Market
Jethias turns to see two muscular young men in plate armor walking toward him, clad in green tabards displaying the arms of the Duchy of Urnst (a rampant brown bear on a green field). One of them approaches Jethias & lifts the young mage off his feet in a massive bear hug.
"Look Ondrell," the man exclaims, "it's young Jethias!"
"And all grown up, t'would seem, Alisarn," says the other man. "Still a bit on the sickly side, though."
"Cimmerii, Hailleck," says Jethias, looking uncomfortable, "allow me to introduce to Alisarn & Ondrell--my, *ahem* brothers."
"O-ho! What strange bedfellows we have, little brother," says Alisarn, mussing the mage's hair. "The girl's not bad, though, if a bit rough around the edges."
Cimmerii begins to say something as her hand moves to her dagger, but Jethias places his hand over hers & leans toward her.
"Not here," he whispers, "They're idiots, just ignore them."
Cimmerii coolly relents as Jethias turns his attention back to his brothers.
"So, what are you two doing in Greyhawk? I thought you were currently serving Duke Karll as bannermen."
"We were reassigned about two months back," says Alisarn. "We're currently serving Count Reichart Petrides, the Duchy's ambassador here in Greyhawk."
"Not a bad assignment, really," says Ondrell. "Light duties, chambers in the finest mansion in the city, and the company's quite stimulating as well, if you know what I mean," he says, elbowing Alisarn.
"Yes, indeed," says Alisarn. "In fact, I've recently met quite a charming elven lass, one Lady Ariella, late of Celene."
"And quite a looker, too," replies Ondrell. "Our big brother's done quite well for himself, it seems."
"So Jethias," asks Alisarn, "what brings you to Greyhawk? Finally get tired of studying incantations with that hedge wizard father set you up with?"
"Actually," Jethias says nervously, "I've come into my own as a mage of some repute lately. In fact, I've just recently been accepted into Greyhawk's Guild of Wizardry."
"-O-ho, Ondrell! Our young Jethias is a mighty wizard now! Watch out Mordenkainen!"
"Hmph," Jethias scowls at the obvious ribbing.
"So, Jethias," asks Ondrell, "what are you doing tomorrow night?"
"Probably burning an effigy of my insufferable brothers," the mage says under his breath.
"I don't think he has any plans," offers Hailleck, as jethias scowls at the dwarf.
"Excellent!" exclaims Ondrell. "We'll be attending a production at the Royal Opera House. You simply must attend!"
"Yes," says Alisarn. "Aestrella Shanfarel will be giving a solo performance of works by Otto. Everyone who is anyone will be there."
"Aestrella?" asks Cimmerii?
"She's the grand diva of the Royal Opera," offers Ondrell. "A petite young half-elven lass with a voice as powerful as a titan's & as enchanting as a siren's!"
"Sounds like fun," says Cimmerii. "We'll be there."
"Excellent," says Alisarn. "Well, brother, we must be off. See you tomorrow. Come Ondrell."
As the two walk away, Jethias turns to Cim. "You really enjoyed that, didn't you?"
"You seemed a bit uncomfortable there, Jethias. Why don't you just fireball them if they annoy you so much?"
"That's just not an option in civil society, Cimmerii. rest assured, though--everytime I destroy some creature with my magic, it's the faces of my brothers I see."
"Well, I'm going back to the Blue Dragon," says Hailleck. "You guys coming."
"No, we'll catch up later," says Jethias. "We have to speak with this Bree fellow."
Hailleck heads off to the Blue Dragon while Cimmerii & Jethias head down the Processional into Old City.
Waterday, Harvester 12, 595 CY
Late afternoon/early evening, the Blue Dragon Inn
Hailleck returns to the Blue Dragon to find Fin and Tassilo in the taproom. Oddly, the priest seems to be consoling the young Rogue.
"Is Reinhart here?" asks the dwarf, looking around.
"No," says Tassilo. "He's back at his aunt's, I believe."
"Then why aren't you. . . ?"
"I am Reinhart's friend and right hand, dwarf--not his lapdog. Should evil raise it's ugly head, yea, then I shall ever rush to his side--but spending time with one's family is not quite the same as facing harpies and trolls."
"You haven't met my relatives, then," retorts Hailleck.
The Heironean smiles. "Indeed I haven't, bard. But sit! Join us--for Fin is truly in need of the company of all his friends this night."
Hailleck sits at the table and orders an ale from the serving wench.
"So Fin, what's going on."
Fin shows Hailleck the letter from his father and tells him about Reinhold's visit. "So I was thinking," he finishes, "that I'd really like to check out this map & see if I can find out what happened to my parents."
"We'll gladly aid you in such an endeavor," says Tassilo.
"We will?" asks Hailleck.
The priest looks disapprovingly at the dwarf.
"I mean, we will!" exclaims the bard. "We most certainly will!"
"Where's the map lead to," asks Tassilo.
"The sewers," says Fin.
"Oh," says the Heironean.
"Ah, back into the good old sewers," says Hailleck, enjoying Tassilo's discomfort.
"Where are the others?" asks Fin.
"Cim and Jethias went to Old City looking for some drow mage, or so they say," replies the bard. "You ask me, they're likely looking for the Beast with Two Backs."
"The what?" asks Tassilo.
"Nevermind. We actually ran into Jethias' two brothers in the High Market. They're like big, strong, stupid versions of him. Totally different from Jethias, other than the fact that they're also a$*%$+@s. What's Reinhart's brother like."
"Like a more mature, less uptight version," says Fin. "You say he's busy?" The thief turns to Tassilo.
"Yes," says the priest. "I think his aunt needs him to help with some family matters on the estate.
At that moment, a man with black hair and brown eyes dressed in the yellow robes of a Pelorian priest approaches the table.
"Fin!" he exclaims. "I heard you were staying here."
Fin gets up and embraces the man, introducing him to Hailleck & Tassilo as Verben Ranzoff. "We're old friends," says Fin.
"Fin is friends with a priest?" says Hailleck, shaking his head.
Verben joins the others at the table, and after several minutes of catching up, Fin tells his old friend about the letter and map he received earlier, and Verben agrees to help.
"Then let's go in tonight, at nightfall," says Fin.
"Wait a minute, old friend," says Verben. The sewers can be deadly. We should consider finding some muscle."
"Well, our paladin's doing chores for his auntie & our mentally unstable ranger's probably out molesting an @sshole right now," says Hailleck.
"Hmmm," thinks Fin. "I know someone we could ask. Come on--she hangs out at the Green Dragon."
"She?" asks Hailleck.
"Yeah, but I don't think she's your type--or you, hers."
The four pay their tabs and leave the Blue Dragon Inn.
Fin leads Hailleck, Tassilo, and Verben to the Green Dragon Inn in the River Quarter, one of the rowdiest establishments in Greyhawk. Walking inside, they see a large crowd assembled near a table in the corner.
"There," says Fin to his companions.
The patrons are cheering on an arm-wrestling contest between a bizarre duo. One, a massive half-orc with a huge axe scar along one side of his face, and the other, a short, ugly, red-haired human woman who looks almost dwarvish. Despite the hal-orc's size advantage, the two seem evenly matched. Unable to move each other, the entire table breaks in half under the strain, sending drinks everywhere. As the crowd disperses, Fin approaches the woman.
"Fin!" she says, embracing him. "Good to see you're out!"
"Hi Fredericka," he says. "I'd like you to meet my friends--Verben, Tassilo, Hailleck, this is Fredericka the Fierce."
"Good times," she says. "Aushtar!" she calls to the half-orc, who comes striding over. "Meet my old friend Fin, & his new friends!"
"Aushtar Bloodgrin," the half-orc says, nearly crushing Fin's hand as he shakes it. "Let's find us a new table and sit. You, too, dwarf. Wench! More ale!"
"Y'know Fredericka, I was looking for someone just like you," says Fin, sitting down. The rogue then explains his situation and Fredericka agrees to help. She convinces Aushtar to go along, too, but not until Fin offers him 100 gold orbs and a share of any treasure found. The six agree to fetch their equipment and meet back at the Blue Dragon at nightfall.
Waterday, Harvester 12, 595 CY
Early evening, Old City
Jethias & Cimmerii (Skie is currently at the Silverfox estate with Verin, Reinhart's henchman) stop by the City Depot in the Thieve's Quarter (map), where they hire a guide from the Union of Couriers and Messengers to lead them to the home of Landis Bree, one of the few dark elves who live openly in the Free City.
Their guide leads them to a fine old house in Old City with a courtyard obscured by a solid gete. Soon, they hear the door to the house open and shortly afterward the gate is opened by a huge man in a human robe.
"I am Brigg, the gatekeeper," says the man. He looks directly at Cimmerii. "I assume you are here to speak to Landis?"
"Yes," says Cimmerii.
"We thought so," replies the man.
Curious, the two follow Brigg inside the stately but not extravagant abode, where they are led to a room with a number of comfortable chairs facing a large desk.
"Have a seat," says Brigg. "The master will be with you shortly."
The pair sit down, noticing that Brigg does not leave the room to fetch his master, but stands behind them near the door. Soon, a slender, cowled figure in a black robe embroidered with stars enters the room, seeming to glide more than walk. The figure sits down and speaks from deep within the folds of his cowl.
"Greetings. I assume you already know who I am. However, I have not had the pleasure."
"Jethias Tolemir, sir," says the young mage, and this is . . ."
"Cimmerii Acanthus," the half-elf interrupts.
Bree pulls back his hood, revealing the sharp ebony features and pale hair so typical to his race.
"I assumeyou are the one with questions for me, girl," he says.
"Yes," she says. "How did you know?"
"I don't, girl--I just assumed. My kind are rare in the lands above, and unions between us and humans even moreso. If I may assume again, you have not come on a matter regarding your human kin, no?"
"Yes, sir. I'm actually looking for my father."
Bree raises a white eyebrow. "And you think I may be him? Unlikely girl, seeing that I have never lain with a human woman."
"Oh. Well, perhaps you've heard of him? He was a slaver at one time, and was known as 'Fear' and 'the accursed.' Here," she says, reaching into her pocket, "I have a note that I believe refers to him."
Cimmerii hands Bree the missive obtained in the caverns beneath Dourstone Mine (see Reaping 21, 595), which reads thus:
"Coldeven 26, 594 CY
My Dearest Edralve,
T'was good to hear from you after so long. My sincere thanks for the gifts that you sent. I trust that the slaves I have supplied will serve to cement our alliance, and solidify our non-aggression pact. No further word on that red-eyed fiend who betrayed us over a decade past. I understand that he left Erelhei-Cinlu before the Wars, and spent some time as a mercenary. My spies tell me that our former ally was last seen visiting the Seeker Lodge in Greyhawk some three years ago, but he has long since left the city. The purpose of his visit remains a mystery, but perhaps you will be able to learn what I could not. It is with great regret that I cannot offer you more aid in this, but until your former paramour becomes a direct threat to the Empire, I must allocate my resources to more pressing matters.
~T"
"My mother was captured in the Pomarj and enslaved by my father," Cim explains. "Edralve was a drow priestess of Lolth who was his paramour. He helped my mother escape because he figured Edralve would kill her if she found out mom was pregnant."
"Where'd you find this?" Bree asks.
"Among the possessions of a grimlock priest of Erythnul," Cim replies. "The grimlocks had a number of drow possessions, on them, even a preserved head."
"And some of their coinage was from as far away as Keoland," adds Jethias.
"Most curious," says Bree. "From reading this, I would assume it's a missive from Turrosh Mak, despot of the Pomarj, to this Edralve. Somewhere along the way, the messengers must have encountered your grimlocks on their journey back to Edralve."
Bree hands the letter back to Cimmerii.
"I'm sorry, girl, but I believe I can help you no further. Your best course of action, I believe, would be to visit the local Seeker lodge and see if anyone there can help you."
"Do you know where it is," Cim asks?
"I believe I do," interrupts Jethias. "Clerkburg, right?" Bree nods.
"Hailleck and I saw their symbol on a building there a few days back (See Harvester 4)," says the young mage.
"Great," says Cim. "I guess that's our next move."
The two thank Landis Bree and Brigg shows them out. By now, the sun is low in the sky.
"You'd best hurry," says Brigg. "The Black Gate will be closing soon, and you'll have to spend the night in Old City--unless you don't mind walking from the Highway Gate to the Cargo Gate."
The two make their way back, leaving Old City just as the huge gates close the Slum and Thieves' Quarters off from the rest of Greyhawk.
Waterday, Harvester 12, 595 CY
Nightfall, the River Quarter
Following his parent's map, Fin leads Aushtar, Fredericka, Hailleck, Tassilo, and Verben down into the sewers of Greyhawk.
After dispatching a pair of otyughs at a sewer intersection about halfway to their destination, the group comes upon a side passage leading to natural caverns. At one point, the group is ambushed by a mated pair of umber hulks, which they handily slay.
After about another hour of traveling, the group come upon the cave entrance marked as the final destination on the map.
On the way into the cavern, Hailleck notices a petrified rat in a nearby pile of rubble. The passage slopes up, opening into a rather large cavern filled with statues. Further back, a ledge separates the cavern into two different heights, with a slope to the right leading toward the upper level.
Three statues stand on the ledge overlooking the lower section: a male elven archer poised to let an arrow fly, next to a similary-poised female elven archer, next to a male human warrior peering from behind a tower shield. Immediately below these three stand 5 more statues with their backs to the ledge: a panicked male gnome fighter, & 4 kobolds, 2 fleeing, one with a frightened look on his face, & one on his knees, hands clapsed as if begging.
Immediately to the party's right stands a statue of a male dwarven fighter in scale male, with a raised battleaxe. On the far left side of the cavern stands a statue of a snarling lizard man. To the lizard man's right sits an alcove containing a fungal garden, in which stands a statue of a strangely peaceful gnome with a pointed hat.
In the center of the cavern, however, lies the most ironic sight--a large statue of an umber hulk, toppled forward crushing the creature beneath it, which appears to be no more than a skeleton. Examining the remains, the party sees that the skeleton appears to be human, other than the fact that a number of snake skeletons are clustered around the creature's skull.
"Heh. That's funny," says Hailleck.
"Do any of these look like your parents, Fin?" asks Fredericka.
"No," replies the rogue, "but there may be more.'
"Hey, look!" says Aushtar. "There's a bow under the umber hulk."
The half-orc points to a bow pinned under the statue, presumably the medusa's. Hailleck casts a spell, & the weapon tests positive for magic.
"Let's move it," says Aushtar.
The half-orc and Fredricka lay down their weapons & attempt to move the statue, when suddenly they find their hands covered with a sticky adhesive & the statue moving & lashing out with pseudopods.
"@#$%!" curses Hailleck. "Mimic!"
The party then hears a pair of terrifying shrieks, & two vargouilles fly from the back of the cavern. Verben finds himself frozen in fear, & Aushtar & Fredericka find themselves unable to move.
Fin begins fighting one of the vargouilles, while the other kisses Verben. Things go from bad to worse when a troll enters the cavern from the entrance & the female elf archer statue comes to life & begins peppering the party with arrows. Tassilo moves to engage the troll, & Hailleck helps Verben, who soon shakes off the fear. Verben moves over to Fredericka & Aushtar & using the two pints of wine he's carrying to disolve the mimic's adhesive, freeing Aushtar & Fredericka. Aushtar moves to help Tassilo with the troll, while Fredericka & Verben slay the mimic.
Suddenly, Aushtar is caught off guard when the troll transforms into a rust monster!
The half-orc hits the creature with his spear, only to have the blade completely destroyed by rust. Hailleck & Fin soon finish the vargouilles, & Verben begins firing crossbow bolts at the "rust monster," while Tassilo uses a Spiritual Weapon on it. Aushtar draws his dagger, while Fredericka downs a cure potion & begins charging up the slope toward the elf with the bow.
Hailleck draws his crossbow & begins firing at the "rust monster" which soon transforms back into a "troll." Aushtar charges it with his dagger, while Verben, Tassilo, & Hailleck use their healing spells on their allies. Fin follows Fredricka into the upper part of the cavern, littered with more statues. Fredericka soon finds herself sneak attacked by an invisible opponent, whom Fin, Hailleck, & Tassilo recognize as the short-sword weilding instigator of the fight at the Crooked House, Elaxan! (see Harvester 3, 595).
Aushtar finishes the "troll" (which they observe isn't regenerating) with a thunderous blow from his dagger. The creatue quickly transforms into a pile of protoplasm, which allows Hailleck to announce that they've just slain a creature known as a phasm. Tassilo heals the half-orc while the others run up the slope to follow the elven archer & Elaxan.
"Save yourself, Korakaia," Elaxan cries to the elf as Fredericka & Fin eventually finish him. His dead form quickly transforms into that of a doppelganger. As the party advances on the elf, she makes a last-ditch effort, pulling off her Hat of Disguise to reveal that she's actually a medusa. Luckily, everyone looks away in time & is able to slay her.
After Fin, Hailleck, Aushtar, Tassilo, Verben, & Fredericka heal up, they explore the rest of the medusa's lair. They locate a few more statues, some of which Fin determines must be his parents' companions: Herschel the Savage, a raging male half-orc with a scimitar & shield; Pearlina Curlyfoot, a surprised female halfling rogue; Ayriella Delarion, afemale elven spellcaster; Lareth Delarion, who they determine to be the male elf archer standing near the ledge. The also find another statue, of a human male fighter in full plate with a closed visor, & a human male & female statue, both headless. Fin fears these are his parents.
Hailleck notices some kind of dung on the necks of the statues, & Verben concludes that the vargouilles must have used the necks to perch on.
A slope moves from this room into a smaller cavern, where the group finds the medusa's quarters, as well as a pool of water that narrows into an underground stream.
Fin enters the pool, where he finds a petrified chuul. In a small hollow at its feet, Fin finds a bag containing some gold and platinum pieces, as well as a wand of Cure Moderate Wounds, potion of Water Breathing, & the heads of the two statues in the previous room, which Fin sadly learns are the heads of his parents, Osric & Iselda. Determined to bring his parents back, Fin & his companions return to the surface, where he plans to ask Jethias for magical aid.
Earthday, Harvester 13, 595 CY
The wee hours of the morning.
Fin, Verben, Tassilo, Aushtar, Fredericka, & Hailleck emerge from the sewers. It being so late, the group agrees to meet the next day, all save Aushtar, who claims business elsewhere. Fin pays the half orc his promised fee & the barbarian leaves.
Fin wakes late that morning & seeks out Jethias, telling him his predicament. Jethias agrees to help out. Cimmerii has already spoken with Hailleck, & she also offers to come along. About that time, Reinhart & Tassilo show up, as do Verben & Fredericka. Fin insists in going down into the sewers immediately, so Hailleck uses his abilities to distract anyone watching, while the others slip into the sewer, Hailleck soon joins them, via Invisibility.
Fin leads the group to the medusa's lair, where Verben uses Make Whole spells to fix the statues of Fin's parents. Jethias then casts Break Enchantment on Fin's father, Osric, bringing the man back to life.
Unfortunately, Osric is traumatized to learn of his current situation, finding that his child is now a teenager (Osric himself being only about 8 years older) & a criminal, he's been robbed of his wealth, and his wife and friends have also been turned to stone.
Jethias then casts Break Enchantment on Iselda. She comes to life, but suddenly grabs her throat, as if she can't breathe, & falls dead, blood running from her mouth. Osric is now in even worse shape, & Reinhart does his best to console him. Verben theorizes that the make whole spell must have went awry, seeing that he's no chirurgeon. Fin resolves to get a Raise Dead from the Sanctum of Heironeous to revive his mother, as soon as he gets the money. Fredericka, being all about family, decides to give the kid a loan.
Reinhart also resolves to see what can be done about the other petrified victims, but since Jethias is out of Break Enchantments, the group decides to leave, carry Iselda's body & leading a broken Osric back to the surface.
The first thing they do is take Iselda's body to the Sanctum of Heironeous, where Jaikor Demian agrees to raise Iselda, though he won't be able to do it until tomorrow. Demian also agrees to let Osric stay at the sanctum for the night & help console him. Fin, Reinhart, & Tassilo stay as well.
Cimmerii & Jethias return to the Blue Dragon, while Fredericka returns to the Green Dragon, & Hailleck decides to visit the Silver Garter.
Earthday, Harvester 13, 595 CY
Evening, the Greyhawk Royal Opera House
After purchasing tickets for the nearly sold-out show after leaving the Sanctum of Heironeous, Jethias & Cimmerii head back to the Blue dragon, where they prepare for the evening donning the nobles' outfits found in the dopplegangers' lair. The two then make their way to the Royal opera House, one of the largest & most ostentatious buildings in the Free City.
Outside the entrance to the concert hall, they see many of Greyhawk's wealthiest & best connected citizens socializing over appetizers & glasses of wine, including Lady Silverfox, Illya Starmane, Lord Henway (owner of the famous menagerie), Lord Hevel Wheatsmill (owner of the Old Mill), Stakaster Villaine (high priest of Zilchus), Jerome Kasinskaia (high priest of Rao & member of Directing Oligarchy), Fioranna Aielestriel (a grey elf noblewoman from Nyrond who now lives in Greyhawk), Ravel Dasinder (high priest of Boccob & member of Directing Oligarchy), and Torrentz Hebvard (president of the Society of Magi & member of the Directing Oligarchy).
They also see a number of ambassadors to Greyhawk, such as Almerin Skiari of Keoland, Elskan Samarade of Furyondy, and Sir Ranald Immanen of Nyrond.
About that time, the pair are spotted by Alisarn & Ondrell, who motion them over to where a finely dresses, dark-haired man with a neatly trimmed goatee speaks nearby with another guest. Alisarn tells them that the man is Count Reichart Petrides, the ambassador from the Duchy of Urnst. The man appears to be very busy discussing business with another opera-goer, so isn't introduced to the adventurers. However, the pair do introduce Jethias & Cimmerii, to their dates, an attractive human woman named Saleria and a beautiful elven woman Alisarn introduces as Lady Ariella of Celene.
Jethias & Cimmerii at first don't recognize the woman, dressed as she is in all her finery, but they quickly realize that "Ariella" is none other than Tirra! Tirra slyly presses her finger to her lips, cautioning the pair not to blow her cover. The groups have little opportunity o exchange no more than pleastantries when the doors to the concert hall open & Alisarn & Ondrell are called away by Count Reichart.
"It was nice to meet you," smiles Tirra.
"Likewise," smirks Cim.
"I hope she robs him blind," Jethias whispers to Cim.
The pair then notice a group of 5 mages engaged in coversation nearby. A tall, stocky man in his forties, with long blonde hair & dressed in fine silks; an attractive woman in her forties with honey-blonde curls and a pseudodragon on her shoulder; a short, fat man with long curly hair & flamboyantly dressed; and a red-haired man & woman who appear to be a couple.
Jethias recognizes them immediately.
"That's. . . that's Kieren Jalucian, master of the Guild of Wizardry, and he's with Jallarzi Sallavarian and Otto of the Circle of Eight!"
"Who are the other two?" asks Cim.
"Not sure," replys Jethias.
"Well, let's go talk to them!"
"We can't just. . . ." Jethias' words fall on deaf ears as Cimmerii starts toward the group, & the mage, somewhat intimidated, follows.
"Excuse me," says Cim in her most pleasant voice, "I couldn't help but notice your dragon. She's a beautiful creature"
"Why thank you," says Jallarzi, as the dragon raises its head. "This is Edwina. Edwina--say hello."
The creature emits something between a roar & a sqawk, causing Jallarzi to laugh.
"Sorry, she can a bit excitable," says Jallarzi.
"That's quite alright," says Cim. "I am Cimmerii Acanthus, and this is Jethias Tolemir."
"Jallarzi Sallivarian," says the woman, "and this is Kieren Jalucian, Otto, Lord Gerdacyr of Verbobonc, and Marial."
The group exhanges greetings, while Jethias adds, a bit nervously, "Yes master Kieren, I was just inducted into the guild."
"Well, congratulations, lad. I look forward to your future research and contributions."
The red-haired man, Gerdacyr, turns to Cimmerii.
"Pardon me, but I couldn't help but notice--you have drow blood, correct?"
"Yes, from my father," replies Cim. "My mother was captured by him in the Pomarj, but she was able to escape before I was born."
"The Pomarj you say? I was once part of an adventuring band called the Flamebringers. Before I joined, they adventured for awhile with a drow they met in the Pomarj. In fact, he aided them in defeating the Slave Lords."
"Really?" asks Cim, her eyes widening. You don't by chance remember his name?"
"Well, he left before I joined," says Gerdacyr, "so i never met him. But I think it was something like 'Flin' or 'Rin'."
"Fear?" asks Cimmerii.
"No, I don't think so," says the mage. "But those who traveled with him remembered him with both fondness and irritation. You think this man may be your father?"
"Possibly. Is there any way I could talk to those who knew him?"
"I'm afraid I've lost touch with most of them," says Gerdacyr, "and those I haven't have left Oerth. But from what I've heard about him, his disposition was far more foul than yours, milady."
"Heh. You haven't been around her during that time of the month," jokes Jethias.
The group responds in stunned silence while Cimmerii elbows Jethias, nearly knocking the wind out of him.
"Well," says Kiernen coolly, "I believe it's time to find our seats. Milady," Kiernan & the others bid Cimmerii farewell and walk into the concert hall.
"Master Otto, I admire your work. . . ." Jethias blubbers, clutching his side as the archmage walks off, ignoring him.
"That was tactful," sneers Cim.
"I'm sorry," apologizes the mage, "I don't know what came over me."
"Let's just find our seats," says Cim, storming off. "You owe me for this, you know."
The show begins shortly after the pair are seated near the back. The lights go down & Aestrella Shanfarel, a stunning half-elven woman, takes the stage to thundrous applause. Her voice is unimaginable, and the show is marvelous. The program states that all of the works performed were penned by Otto himself. The final aria is the most incredible thing the pair have ever seen. The program explains Otto's theories about music and arcane magic being very similar, and that the aria, when sung properly allows a one-way, visual-only portal to the plane of Arborea. So far, the only singer found who is able to do this is Aestrella. Sure enough, the portal opens, and the audience is treated to a spectacular vista of open fields and lush forests filled with frolicking wildlife, satyrs, dryads, titans, and other inhabitants. When the song ends & the lights go down, the concert hall is so silent you can hear a pin drop. Then slowly the audience regains their senses, and one-by-one the applause starts, ending in a thunderous cresendo which seems to shake the room itself. Cim & Jethias file out with the rest of the audience & begin walking back to the Blue Dragon.
Earthday, Harvester 13, 595 CY
(Note: The following was written by Dan & Emily, who play Jethias & Cimmerii, respectfully.)
After the night at the opera, as Jethias and Cimmerii are walking home in the cool autumn evening, Jethias stops and speaks hesitantly.
"I have something of yours, Cim." He stares at his feet, unable to meet the half-drow’s eyes. "There wasn’t time before, and. . . well, I wasn’t convinced it was really you, not until we’d gotten out of Sodden Hold." He reaches into one of his many pockets and comes out with a walnut-sized sapphire in his palm, holding out to Cimmerii. "Remember this? It’s not a mere gem. I identified it, the other night while you were sleeping. That creature, the doppelganger: he made it, I think, him or the mind flayer. They must have done it when you were captured. It…contains your memories, Cim. It’s like your entire mind is stored inside this gem. A person who can read minds, like a doppelganger, could probe it and know everything you know, know your innermost thoughts." Jethias looks Cimmerii in the face finally. "It wasn’t right for me to keep it, and I’m sorry. Here, take it. It’s yours."
He adds after a moment, "You should know I didn’t try to peer into it. I could have. There are spells…But I didn’t. I thought that might count for something."
Hands in pockets, he turns and moves off briskly towards the inn.
Cim pauses for a moment, her face blank as she thinks of what to say. Jethias gets only a few yards ahead of her, when she calls out to him.
"Jethias, wait." He turns to look at her, as she catches up. "Umm...thank you. I know you would never try to...read it, or whatever one does with a memory containing jewel. For one thing, your too nice of a guy," She places a hand gently on his shoulder and looks him in the eye, "and too good of a friend." Her hand drops away, and she walks off, finishing over her shoulder. "Even if you are a dork."
An hour or so after getting "home" from the theatre, Cim knocks on Jethias's door, after noticing the light was still on. When he opens, she steps in. She is still in her nice dress, but she is barefoot, and has let her hair down. She is holding the Saphire in her hand.
"I have a question," she starts,moving to sit on the edge of his bed, nervously turning the stone around and around in her hand. "Is there a way to distroy this thing, or at least rid it of my memories? I've done some things," she pauses, her eyes downcast, "that I am not proud of, but that I did because I thought it was the best thing to do. I...I have a hard time talking of them to even my closest friends, and I hate the idea that anyone at all could read them." She looks up at him, her violet eyes beseeching. "Can you do anything?"
Jethias is visibly uncomfortable with Cim in this close a proximity in such a circumstance. Without looking her in the eye he says,
"Only the most powerful magics can disjoin an item from its magical properties. I’m afraid I’m not that skilled yet.” He surprises himself with a wry laugh. “Why not just crush it with a hammer? Or even your axe? Sometimes all the magic in the world isn’t as effective as a small application of brute force."
He adds after a pause, "Don’t tell the others I said that."
Cim laughs, saying "Don't worry, I won't."
She bounds off the bed and, not noticing (or at least not caring) that Jethias looks uncomfortable, gives him a brief hug. Releasing him quickly, she says "Oh, Jethias, this has made me feel better than I have since we first came to this gods forsaken city. Thank you."
She heads to the door, and pauses, her hand on the doorknob. "Out of curiosity, how did you know the stone contained my memories? I mean, I know you didn't read it, but does the Identify spell give that much detail?"
Freeday, Harvester 14, 595 CY
Reinhart, Hailleck, Fin, & Tassilo spend the day attending to various and sundry matters, while Jethias & Cimmerii decide to visit the Seeker Lodge in Clerkburg.
At the Lodge, they pay a fee to access the organization's library. When Cimmerii asks about a drow who may have visited the lodge in 591 CY, she is directed to a man who was tending to the library at the time. Cim & Jethias are a bit taken aback to learn that this man is none other than Khellek himself!
Though rather curt & a bit condescending, Kellek is civil, and answers Cimmerii's questions. Relying on memory & logbooks, Khellek tells the pair that the man gave his name as "Zarathar," & seemed interested in a number of topics. Books he accessed included copies of Rory Barbarosa's journal (a Rel Astran sea captain's account of his visit to a place called the Isle of Dread); The Lays of Bar Strannach (the crazed utterings of a fomorian giant said to be prcphecies regarding the Great Kingdom); the Chronicle of Secret Times (details of the early history of Keoland and its struggles against Vecna; Doors and Passages of Parallel Worlds; Exile from Aerdy; Legendary Ghosts and Phantoms by Evard; Legendry of Great Arms and Fabulous Heroes by Kas; The Poems of Thalac Jiwo; and many others.
From what they can determine, much of what this "Zarathar" was researching had to do with magical artifacts, mysterious places, demon lords, death knights, and other fell creatures.
Cimmerii and Jethias return to the Blue Dragon, even more curious than before.
Starday, Harvester 15, 595 CY
That morning, Reinhart, Jethias, Cimmerii, Fin, Hailleck, Tassilo, Stalagov, & Flinch all dressed in their most respectable clothing, meet Souf at his shop. The group then heads to the Lord Mayor's palace for their appointment with the Directing Oligarchy.
The group is led by one of the Lord Mayor's aides to a large chamber
After much waiting for the council to a large chamber where over a dozen people sit at a long table. The party is seated is chairs off to the side where they wait for their turn to be heard. At the head of the table sits Lord Mayor Nerof Gasgal, middle-aged man with a finely-trimmed beard. To his right sits Org Nenshen, a man of about the same age--only clean-shaven & younger-looking--and rumored to be Guildmaster of Thieves. Org actually looks a bit dishelved, the party notices, as if he's had a lot on his mind.
At Nerof's left sits a cold-eyed dwarf--Glodreddi Bakkanin, Inspector of Taxes, rumored to be the last man in Greyhawk to cross. Also sitting at the table are Gerda Hollardel, Guildmistress of Jewlers & Gemcutters; Jerome Kasinskaia, Patriarch of Rao (god of peace, reason, & serenity); Ravel Dasinder, patriarch of Boccob; Tigran Gellner, Captain-General of the Watch; Merchants' and Traders' Union guildmaster Dernen Nathane; Assistant Guildmaster of the Merchant's & Trader's Union, a dwarf named Stimtrin Cannasay; Torrentz Hebvard, President of the Society of Magi; a grey elf named Vesparian Lafanel (AKA "Vesper"), and two more men from the Merchants' & Traders' Union, Cariel Mansharen & Carmen Halmaster.
Finally, the party is allowed to speak. Reinhart, Stalagov, & Souf do most of the talking, requesting that the city draft a formal agreement with the lizardfolk of the Mistmarsh. Most of the questions are asked by the Lord Mayor, the Captain-General, the Chief Judge, and the high priest of Rao. After many questions & much arguing among the council members, the party manages to convince the directors that the treaty would be a good idea. The Lord Mayor orders a committe formed to draft the "Mistmarsh Accord," consisting of Gellner, Kasinskaia, and Cannasay, with assistance from Souf, Reinhart, and Stalagov. The treaty is to be presented next Starday, Harvester 22, and hopefully will be voted on after Brewfest.
Gellner asks the committee members and advisors to meet at the Citadel in tomoorow to begin drafting the Mistmarsh Accord. Everyone agrees and the party leaves the Lord Mayor's palace.
Harvester 16-21, 595 CY
Over the next few days, the party engages in various activities.
Reinhart spends several hours with Souf, Stalagov, & the city officials drafting the Mistmarsh Accord. He also spends time at the Sanctum of Heironeous, and taking evening rides with Molly outside the city walls.
Tassilo spends his time enchanting Reinhart's longsword, intending to make it a Holy weapon. Hailleck tries to visit as many taverns, gambling houses, & brothels as is humanly (dwarvenly?) possible. Cimmerii spends time at the Seekers Lodge, or outside the city walls with Skie. Jethias also spends time at the Seekers Lodge, as well as the Guild of Wizardry & Great Library of Greyhawk.
Fin spends time becoming reaquainted with his parents, and the three even return, with Jethias, Fredericka, and Verben, to the medusa's lair to find out all the other stone statues' heads had also been sawn off, then placed back upon the victims' necks. Osric & Iselda, currently unable to afford any more Raise Deads should the same fate befall their comrades that befell Iselda, decide wait for awhile before returning their companions back to flesh. Instead, they wish to remove them from the lair. Fin, Verben, & Fredricka agree to help, but Jethias, hating physical labor, instead recruits Nogas, Verin, and Kayin to aid Fin's parents. By the end of the week, they've moved every statue (save the lizardman and kobolds) to the grounds of the Silverfox estate.
"Not exactly how I would have handled it," says Reinhart, "but it certainly spruces up the place."
Starday, Harvester 22, 595 CY
Reinhart, Tassilo, Stalagov, Souf, Jethias, Fin, Hailleck, Cimmerii, and Flinch show up that morning for the meeting of the Directing Oligarchy.
Tigran Gellner presents the Mistmarsh Accord to the council. Among the provisons are that Souf will act as the main go-between, taking the treaty to all the tribes of the Mistmarsh & convincing them to approve it. Though the attitude toward the treaty is generally favorable, the directors atate that voting can't begin until after it's been properly reviewed, not only by the Directing oligarchy, but also by legal advisors, which will likely take another two weeks. The party nods its acceptance of this, and prepares to leave, but are asked by the Lord Mayor to stay. His aide then gives Reinhart, Tassilo, Fin, Cim, Hailleck, & Jethias each a bag of platinum plates, & tells them that this is their reward for foiling the doppleganger plot to take over the city. The party thanks the Lord Mayor and leaves.
Sunday, Harvester 23, 595 CY
Cimmerii, Reinhart, Fin, Jethias, Tassilo, & Hailleck each receive a message bourne by members of the Guild of Couriers & Messengers to meet at dusk that evening at the Wizard's Hat Inn, a hostelry located along the Strip in the River Quarter. The message is from someone named "Celeste"--the name of Eligo's contact who he mention several days before (link).
The group heads out from the Blue Dragon to the Strip, the great curving avenue that is essentially the heart of the rowdy River Quarter. They pass several taverns, brothels, gambling dens, and worse upon this shadowy road of flickering torches and blazing lamps. The avenue is teeming with drunks and toughs, rivermen, Rhennee, and city folk. Oddly enough, both Hailleck & Fin seem to be familiar with many of them.
The group finally arrives at the Wizard's Hat Inn, a rather nondescript place which looks far more friendly on the inside than the rest of the River Quarter. After reluctantly checking their weapons at the door, the group is shown to a private room.
As the adventurers enter the private room at the Wizard's Hat Inn, the two figures sitting at the table rise to greet them. One is an attractive human woman with short blonde hair, wearing studded leather, while the other is a handsome but rather short human man with sandy hair wearing a chain shirt under his fine blue robes.
The woman introduces herself as Celeste, and the man as her close friend Ekaym Smallcask. Once the part has indroduced themselves, Celeste tells them that Eligos told her the group was looking for a sponser to get them into the Champion's Games. Ekaym just recently acquired a manager's license for the games, but has no gladiators to fight for him, and since the group came highly recommended by Eligos, she figured they could help each other out.
Ekaym tells them he's a merchant from the distant south, from the city of Cauldron, and that he's visiting Greyhawk for both business & pleasure. He tells them he's most interested in managing a team of successful gladiators, as it's a godd way to make a lot of money and meet a lot of women. The party quickly agrees to fight for Ekaym, and he shakes hands with all the party members to seal the deal. Ekaym then offers to buy the group dinner. Not being ones to turn down a free meal, the party agress.
Celeste then takes her leave, telling the party that if they do well in the games, she may have work for them in the future.
Ekaym & the party dine on roast venison, marinated and simmered for days resulting in a tender and moist haunch of meat with a delightful distinctive flavor, as well as potato and rice dishes with a tingling blend of spices.
In return for his sponsership, Ekaym asks for half of the winnings from the games, to which the group agrees. He then asks each of them to sign their names to his gladiator license. Upon doing so, he then briefs the group on the Champion's Games, explaining that the event lasts for 5 days, from Brewfest 3-7, though all gladiator teams are required to attend a free dinner offered on the evening of Brewfest 2, after which they will be housed in the Free City Arena & forbidden to leave until they win the games or are elimated from the games, be it via deafeat or disqualification.
The games consist of a massive four-round elimination event, interspersed with spectacle fights that pit gladiators against strange monsters & other exotic foes.
The tournament consists of 4 successive rounds. The first battle, on day one of the games, features 6 battles where 4 teams engage in free-for-all combat. Day two of the games is set aside for the 6 remaining teams to rest & recuperate. Day three consists of 3 team-vs-team battles between the 6 victors of day one. Two combats are fought on day four, one team-on-team fight, while the third team (usually the previous year's winner, should they get that far) fights a special exhibition match against an exotic monster. The final round is on day 5, where the two remaining teams (should the team on day 4 defeat the monster) face off.
The winners of each round are awarded trophies & cash prizes of increasing value, to be shared among surving team members & their manager. The purse from the 1st round is 2000 gold orbs, 5000 for the second round, 10,000 for the third, & 20,000 for the final round.
A single team consists of one to eight members. including mounts and animal companions, but excluding familiars. Each team is required to enter under a name & designate a leader.
After dinner, the group bids farewell to Ekaym, who tells them to prepare as much as possible, and that he'll contact them in the next few days. The party then returns to the Blue Dragon, where they discuss the two requirements for their team.
Reinhart volunteers to lead the group, to which everyone eventually agrees, though Cim lets it be known that he needs to act more decisively.
For names, the group is at even more of a loss. Hailleck suggests Diamond Lake Pond Scum, but the others warn him against that, as doing so would tip off Raknian that they know about his plot to murder them. The party eventually settles on Jethias' suggestion of "The Steelfire Six."
"Well, we use steel, and fire, to overcome our foes," he explains.
"But there will be eight of us," replies Reinhart.
"Eight?"
"I plan to ride Molly into battle, & I'm sure Cim will be bringing Skie--after all, she brings her just about everywhere else," he sneers.
"I already said 'I'm sorry' about the rug in your room!" she retorts.
"Okay, then," says Jethias. "'Steelfire Eight' it is!"
The group then retires for the night.
Harvester 23-27, 595 CY
Over the next several days, the group makes several preparations for the upcoming Champion's Games, from crafting & purchasing magic items to scribing spells to practicing horsemanship, magic, & skill at arms.
Freeday, Harvesster 28, 595 CY
Most of the citizens of Greyhawk get a head start on Brewfest, as the first day is an offical public holiday. Much drunkeness & revelry is had in the streets of the city, and many members of the party join in.
Starday, Growfest 1, 595 CY
The first day of Growfest is spent preparing for the games--crafting & buying magic items, scribing scrolls, practicing, and the like.
Sunday, Growfest 2, 595 CY
That afternoon, Reinhart, Cimmerii, Jethias, Fin, Hailleck, & Tassilo meet Ekaym at the Blue Dragon Inn. The seven then proceed to the Free City Arena, with Molly, Skie, and Verin in tow.
Once at the Arena, the group is registered, and told that after partaking in the Free Dinner, the group will be housed in quarters beneath the Arena, an area called the Coenoby.
The Free City Arena, standing on a hillock in Clerkburg, is massive. The oval structure is some 600' long and nearly 400' wide at its widest point. The arena grounds within are roughly 500' long and nearly 300' wide. A dozen banks of seats surround the arena grounds, providing seating for nearly 20,000 spectators. A large manor is attached to the north side of the structure, which Ekaym says is Loris Raknian's "palace." As the sun begins to lower in the sky, the grey stonework of the entire structure takes on a pinkish cast in the light. The party learns that this is left over from a prank played many years ago by students at one of Clerkburg's many colleges, who painted the entire arena pink!
After registering, the party is told that all large animals, and tempermental animals, fighting in the Games must be housed in stables aboveground, as the Coenoby is too small. Caretakers will be provided if needed. Reinhart agrees to lodge Molly in the arena stables, and has Verin remain with her. Verin leads Molly to the stables to be fed and watered. Cim asks him to take Skie as well, as she fears the wolf might get spooked in the presence of so many guests during the Free Dinner.
About 5:00 pm, a blue-cloaked Arena Warden leads Ekaym, Jethias, Cimmerii, Reinhart, Fin, Hailleck, & Tassilo onto the arena grounds, where several long banquet tables are set up in a circle around a central wooden stage. A small troupe of musicians plays lively music upon the stage, while several other performers (jugglers, jesters, clowns, sword-swallowers, fire-eaters, etc) also perform or wait their turn to take the stage. The whole area is decorated with ribbons, flowers, & multicolored pennants. Two large bonfires burn to the north of the seating area, manned by several cooks, scullions, and servers. Several groups of arena wardens stand guard at each entrance to the arena grounds, and several more can be seen standing watch in the stands above.
Several other attendees can also be seen filing in as well--fellow gladiators, their managers, and a number of Greyhawk's elite, many in their most formal attire. Overall, the group estimates there must be nearly 200 guests in attendence, and about 100 or so cooks, servers, & entertainers.
The group is led to a table and soon provided with plenty of fine food and drink. Though Raknian is nowhere to be seen yet, the group recognizes a few familiar faces. A few unfamiliar ones are pointed out to them as well.
The party is somewhat surprised to see the Kordite priest Krieg, who they last saw Reaping 22, after their victory over the Ebon Triad beneath Dourstone Mine in Diamond Lake. Krieg tells them he's been in Greyhawk for some time now, fighting in the Pit, a fighting ring in the Foreign Quarter. There, he tells them, he met his current companions, who have entered the Games under the name "The Teeth of Kord." Some of Krieg's fellow Teeth, it turns out, are not unknown to the party, and include the half-orc barbarian Austhtar Bloodgrin, the human brawler Fredericka the Fierce, and the Pelorian priest Verben Ranzoff, who claims that he was outvoted when choosing a name for the group (all three were last seen on Harvester 13, after helping Fin rescue his parents Osric & Iselda). Also on Krieg's team are a crazed, battleraging dwarf barbarian with a colorful mohawk known as Durlauf Dragonhyde, and a human pugilist named Marcus. The Teeth of Kord sit at a nearby table with their manager, who happens to be none other than Lord Gerdacyr of Verbobonc, who Cimmerii & Jethias met at the Royal Opera House Harvester 13. Marial, who they also met that night, sits at his side.
Much to Jethias' chagrin, his brothers, Alisarn & Ondrell, have also entered the games. Even worse, they seem to be sitting at the same table. Alisarn takes a seat right next to his youngest brother and begins talking his ear off. He tells Jethias that he leads a squad of four cavalrymen (including himself & Ondrell), who have entered the games under the moniker "Rauth's Dragoons," after one of his old commanders in the Urnst army. Their sponser, Count Reichart Petrides, also sits at the table, but mostly ignores everyone in the Steelfire group save Reinhart, Jethias, & Ekaym. Alisarn's date from the night at the opera (Harvester 13), "Lady Ariella of Celene" (AKA Tirra), is also there. Dressed in stunning soriee attire, Tirra gives Fin a few silent signals familiar to those in the Guild of Thieves to let him know she's "undercover," & he quickly passes the information on to his companions, though he tells Reinhart & Tassilo a different story--that she really is an elven noblewoman and would be scandalized were her side career adventuring with Auric and Khellek to become known. Jethias, for his part, assures Reinhart that this is true, & the paladin and Tassilo buy into it.
Other notables of Greyhawk that the party sees are: Rashif Iqbal, AKA "the Sun Pasha"--champion wrestler at the Pit & Guildmaster of Gladiators; Pietain Morvannis, manager of the Pit; Lord Mayor Nerof Gasgal; and
Org Nenshen, Directing Oligarch & alleged Guildmaster of Thieves.
Shortly before 6:00 pm, the crowd stands and applauds as Loris Raknian enters the arena. He is accompanied by a number of people: Talabir, a robed mage who acts as referee of the games; Captian Okoral, commander of the arena security forces; Auric; Khellek; and 6 purple-cloaked bodyguards. Also with them is a tall grey elf with long silver hair, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a long feather, & with a rapier & shortword on his belt. The party soon learns that this is Auric & Khellek's manager, an elven noble of Celene known as Moredhel Deimos, Lord Dunsith.
Raknian takes the stage and welcomes everyone. After a few quick pleasantries, Raknian invites Auric on stage, & the burly warrior is greeted with even more applause (Fin, Hailleck, & Reinhart note a hint of jealously in Raknian's eyes, which quickly passes). Raknian has Auric display the wide belt around his waist, the "Champion's Belt."
"This," he says, "is the prize you are all after. Only the mightiest of champions can win the Champion's Belt. Is it you? One thing is for sure--Auric doesn't think so--he brought it to the Games, and intends to leave with it, I assure you!"
Raknian & Auric soon leave the stage and sit at a prominent table betweenthe central bonfire & the stage, where his retinue, the Lord Mayor, & Org Nenshen also sit. Talabir then takes the stage, rattling off the rules of combat:
"Although combat is potentially lethal," he begins, "all have the option of surrender. Anyone attacking a surrendering or helpless foe is immediately disqualified, & will likely face assault or murder charges. Those who attack after surrendering are also disqualified."
"Any flight above 40' will also result in disqualification, as will burrowing into the arena floor. Any tactic which endangers spectators or causes damage to the grounds will also result in disqualification & possible legal action. Leaving the area of combat will also result in disqualifiaction. Disqualified gladiators must cease combat at once & move to the edge of the field of battle, or else the entire team will be disqualified."
"A match lasts until one team stands victorious, either through the death or surrender of all opposing teams. The victors have no claim on the spoils of the fallen. The vanquished keep their gear, and in the case of death, ownership reverts to the team, manager, or next of kin. Prizes are given to the victorious team's manager after each battle."
After explaining the rules, Talabir turns the stage over to Raknian, who declares all gladiators "Champions of Greyhawk" for the duration of the game, to much applause, then signals for theFree Dinner to begin. Several performers begin practicing their crafts, while servants begin carrying huge platters of food to each table as the sun begins to set and darkness falls over the arena.
Reinhart, Cimmerii, Fin, Hailleck, Jethias, & Tassilo enjoy themselves thoroughly at the Free Dinner--the food is sumptuous, the entertainment outstanding, & the conversation excellent (except when Jethias is conversing with his brothers, of course).
A large slate board stands near one of the bonfires, listing the odds for each group's victory. Several independent booking agents surround the board. Hailleck, Cimmerii, & Fin each place the maximum amount of 500 gold orbs on their team to win the first match, doing their best to downplay their group's prowess in order to increase the payoff.
About an hour into the feast, Alisarn & Ondrell leave the table to converse with other guests. Tirra takes the opportunity to speak privately with Fin. She mentions that she has a proposal they may be interested in. Cimmerii's keen ears pick up the conversation & she grabs Hailleck & the two impose themselves into the conversation. Tirra tells the three that the Thieve's Guild thinks that Steelfire's chances of winning the Champion's Belt are rather good, and the guild wishes to place a large bet on them for the final round. Tirra says that the guild is willing to split a portion of their winnings with the group amounting to 7500 gp if they put up 2500 gp of their own. The three agree for the entire party, & Hailleck fronts Tirra the money (all in gems).
Finally, she asks the three for a personal boon--should they fight Auric & Khelleck, as they almost certainly will, she asks that they show them mercy. Despite the fact she's betting against them, they're still her friends, & she'd like them to remain out of the Reaper's embrace. The three agree, & promise to pass the information on to their teammates.
As Tirra slyly places the payment in her purse, & begins to rise from the table.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to powder my nose."
"Wait a second," whispers Hailleck. "Why aren't you fighting with them."
Tirra wrinkles her nose. "Brawling with gladiators?" she says. "Not only is that an undignified endeavor for a woman of my station, but it's also bad for business."
As Tirra walks off, Cim says, "You know, with that attitude, I'd almost believe she really was an elven noble."
"But you don't learn that in any palace," says Fin, motioning toward her.
The three watch curiously as Tirra walks past Org Nenshen's table. They see Org quickly stop her, then reach to the ground, picking up her purse and handing it to her. Acting embarrassed, Tirra curtsies & continues on her way to the "powder room."
"Heh," grins Hailleck, "I guess we know now that those are more than mere rumors."
The Free Dinner ends with an impressive display of fireworks. Several dancers surround the central bonfire as arcs of lightning & fire burst upward from the bonfire, thanks to several spells cast by the refereee, Talabir Welik. As the last explosion is replaced by a sudden silence, the dancers fall to the ground & raknian announces in a deep baritone, "The Champion's Games have begun!"
Ekaym wishes Reinhart, Jethias, Cimmerii, Fin, Hailleck, & Tassilo luck, as the managers & guests leave & the gladiators are lowered over the course of an hour via elevator into the arena's service level. Cimmerii takes the time to fetch Skie, as she sees a few other gladiators bringing their animal companions.
Once lowered into the service level, the gladiators are led deeper underground to a large, partly natural cavern called the "Coenoby.' The cave is rather comfortable & well-lit, with an underground stream of fresh water cutting through the middle. The area contains a kitchen, infirmary, dining area, & privy. Each team is housed in one of 24 lodges, with wooden doors, carved into the rock. Though the place is very crowded, all know that it will be considerable less so after tomorrow's fight, where 18 of the 24 teams will be eliminated over the course of six battles.
The place is patrolled by several blue-cloaked arena wardens who prevent any unwarranted exploration. A man named Palemon Nodor staffs the infirmary to help those without benefit of healing magic.
The walls are covered with murals of famous gladiators, one of them easily recognizable as Loris Raknian. They also see a mural of Auric, and one of someone they thought they'd never see again--Shukak, the lizard king of the Twisted Branch lizardfolk tribe in the Mistmarsh, who they slew Goodmonth 19!
After about an hour of socializing with their fellow gladiators, the Steelfire band decides to call it a night, as the first fight will occur at 8:00 am tomorrow.
Moonday, Growfest 3, 595 CY
The Free City Arena, dawn
Jethias, Reinhart, Cimmerii, Fin, Hailleck, & Tassilo awake to find several gladiators gathered near the meal tables at the north end of the Coenoby, where the first day's matches have been posted. The party learns they're fighting in the second round, at 10:00 am. Their opponents are:
Arcane Auriga, four elven women from Celene. The team is led by Rennida Auriga, & consists of herself, her daughter Krinasa, & two cousins, Eelyssa & Anetah. All four women seem to specialize in archery.
Badlands Revenge, led by a human druidic barbarian named Joren. The group also includes Joren's animal companion, a dire badger named Scriminaduro, & 3 gnoll halberdiers.
The Sapphire Squad, led by a swashbuckling man named Korush. Though he appears to be a human, the group will later discover he's actually a janni from the Baklunish west. Korush leads a pair of mercenaries, and all are skilled horsemen.
After breakfast, the Steelfire band decides to size up the competition. Attempting to talk with the other groups, they quickly find that Arcane Auriga & Badlands Revenge have no interest in speaking to anyone, and the elf women, especially,are downright hostile. The group has better luck with Korush, who they find to be extremely friendly, if a bit arrogant. Korush seems especially interested in making Cim's acquaintance, and proposes that they perhaps get to know one another better after the games. Korush also proposes that Steelfire ally themselves with his team to take out Arcane Auriga & Badlands Revenge first. The two teams agree to work together & begin to prepare for the fight. Reinhart & korrush agree that they should first go after Badlands Revenge, then Arcane Auriga.
At 10:00 am, a group of Arena Wardens leads the teams to the elvator, where they are raise up to the arena floor one team at a time, as Talabir introduces each team. As they groups wait to be raised, they take the time to buff themselves with magical enhancements.
Each of the four teams--the Steelfire Eight, Arcane Auriga, the Sapphire Squad, & Badlands Revenge--move to a point marked by an Arena Warden, putting each team at the corner of a 100' square.
The referee, Talabir Welik, gives the signal & the four groups spring into action. Almost immediately, the four elven women of Arcane Auriga draw their bows and fire on Cimmerii, wounding her severely. Jethias, deducing that the archers fired on Cim because of her drow ancestry, unleashes a fireball at the elves, wounding them severely. Hailleck, inspiring his allies with song, moves to heal Cim, while Skie charges one of the archers, knocking her to the ground.
Reinhart, meanwhile, sticks with the original plan & charges Badlands Revenge atop Molly, quickly followed by his new allies in Sapphire Squad. Tassilo & Fin follow Reinhart to engage the Joren, Scriminaduro, & the gnolls.
Healed up, Cim drops her bow & engages the elves in melee, as does Hailleck, while Jethias pelts them with spells. Soon, the members of Arcane Auriga & Badlands Revenge have either been slain, knocked unconscious, or surrendered, and the Steelfire Eight squares off against Korrush and his mercenaries. The mercenaries are defeated quickly, but Korrush proves a skilled opponent. Eventually the janni swashbuckler surrenders, & Steelfire stands triumphant. Hailleck & Tassilo use their magic to prevent their defeated foes from bleeding out, save for the gnolls, who are beyond aid. As an act of respect, Reinhart clasps hands with Korrush, & the pair raise them together, to much applause from the crowd. Needless to say, the two depart as friends.
In the stands above, they see Ekaym accept the reward from Loris Raknian--a bronze trophy depicting a bull, & 2000 gold orbs. The party is then escorted back to the Coenoby.
Moonday, Growfest 3, 595 CY
The Free City Arena, 11:00 am
Back in their quarters in the Coenoby, Reinhart, Cimmerii, Jethias, Fin, Hailleck, & Tassilo meet with their manager, Ekaym. Smiling, Ekaym gives the group their half of the cash prize, as well as the trophy. He also gives Hailleck, Cimmerii, & Fin their payout of 5000 gold orbs each from the bets they placed earlier. The three give him another 500 gp each to place on themselves for the next battle. Ekaym's manner then turns serious.
"I have a confession to make," he says.
"Yes?" says Reinhart.
"While it's nice that you turned out to be pretty good gladiators, I must admit that I had a hidden motive for entering you in the games."
"Hidden motive?" asks Hailleck.
"You see . . . my sister Lahaka disappeared here last year, not long after the previous Champion's Games. I've been looking for her for months now, but I've hit a dead end. She was a traveling entertainer, a bright joy that brought happiness to cities throughout the Flanaess."
"Entertainer?" asks Cim, raising an eyebrow.
"Not that kind of entertainer!" replies Ekaym, obviously annoyed. "A bardic entertainer."
"Oh," replies Cim.
"Anyway," Ekaym continues, "it seems that Lahaka's travels eventually brought her here, to Greyhawk, and more to the point, she caught Loris Raknian's eye. I believe they became lovers. What I do knowis that she vanished the day after the Chamipon's Games ended."
"And you suspect Raknian may have killed her?" asks Jethias.
"Yes," their manager replies. "I've paid for divination spells to learn more, but alas have learned little. And so I decided to come to the games themselves." I hoped that by entering some gladiators into the competition, I'd have a chance to explore the area, talk with Raknian, & maybe find out what happened to Lahaka. But so far, I've found nothing. Raknian's nearly impossible to get to, & I've uncovered no clues in the outlying buildings. There are two places I've not been yet able to reach, however--Raknian's palace & the arena understurcture.'
"Which is where we come in," says Fin.
"Indeed, my friend," says Ekaym. "If you can slip away from the Coenoby between battles & search the surrounding rooms for clues as to what happened to my sister, I'll turn over all the winnings from the games to you. What do you say?"
After briefly conferring among themselves, the group agrees to take on the task, & Ekaym hands over his half of the cash prize. He also hands over a few potions of Cure Moderate Wounds as well, telling them that he can visit them after each battle, and bring in additional healing magic, plus any items they wish him to purchase for them in the city. The group hands over some money for various disposable magics & bids Ekaym farewell. They agree to rest and then to slip away & begin exploring the understructure after dinner that evening.
Moonday, Growfest 3, 595 CY
The Free City Arena, 7:00 pm
Reinhart, Jethias, Fin, Cimmerii, Hailleck, Tassilo, & Skie awake just in time for dinner in the Coenoby. The number of galditorial teams have now dropped to six, making the Coenoby far less crowded. The other winning tems are Auric's Warband, the Teeth of Kord, Pitch Blade, Final Phoenix, and the Unhumans. The Steelfire group takes some time to socialize with Verben, Aushtar, Krieg, & Fredericka of the Teeth of Kord, who tell them about the other teams:
Pitch Blade: Two savage dwarven barbarians named Drusfan & Pharbol. Tactics include using flying potions & sundering their opponents' weapons with their adamantine bastard swords.
Final Phoenix: A large team, consisting of:
Polis, the team leader. A one-eyed human evoker.
Nogal, a dwarven barbarian with punch daggers & a ring of regeneration.
Aurora, a female dark elf druid, whose eyes have no pupils, specializing in weather spells.
Citruk, a demonic looking half-drow, half-fiend with a a long tail & surrounded by the constant smell of brimstone.
Lossos, a massive human monk who augments himself with Stoneskin.
Nerjae, a femal human psionicist with long red hair.
Legna, a male avariel fighter.
Namec, an ice paramental Polis often summons.
The Unhumans: Another large team, consisting of:
Rogets, the team leader. An assimar paladin in blue chainmail, with a winged helm & round shield with a star device.
Donnar, A half-celestial Suel barbarian with a long red cape, winged helm, & wielding a powerful magic warhammer.
Vanda, a tiefling sorceress clad in red.
Eagle, and elven ranger clad in violet & blue, using a variety of magic arrows.
Challa, Eagle's black panther animal companion.
Kratsnot, a strange humanoid in full plate who never raises his visored helm. Uses a ring of flying & a ring of the ram.
Tanej, a female halfling wizard, who harries her opponents by using reduce person & fly on herself, then several magic missles.
Pym, a massive half-ogre fighter who Tanej often uses Enlarge Person on.
After eating & a bit of conversation with the other teams, the Steelfire band finds an opportune moment to sneak off into other portions of the arena.
Moonday, Growfest 3, 595 CY
The Free City Arena, about 9:00 pm
Fin, Reinhart, Cim, Hailleck, Jethias, Tassilo, & Skie begin to explore the Free City Arena's understructure, looking for clues as to the fate of Ekaym's sister & revenge on Loris Raknian.
First, the group finds a large area similar to the Coenoby, but less finished, named "The Titan's House" after a massive statue of a giant. Cim scouts ahead, where she spies Auric & Aurora in one of the rooms involved in a carnal tryst. Finding nothing else, she returns to the party.
"Well, did you see anything?" asks Reinhart.
"Only Auric," she says.
"What's he doing?" asks Fin.
"He's with that drow druidess, Aurora," she replies.
"Ah--I thought I heard some funny sounds," grins Hailleck.
"Sounds? I didn't hear anything," says Jethias. "What are they doing?"
Cim rolls her eyes. "Playing cards," she says.
"Who's winning?" the mage asks.
"Come Jethias," says Reinhart, "there's obviously nothing here. Let's move on."
The group then makes its way to a long circular hallway, with several locked gates leading to spiral staircases going up. After Fin picks the lock on one, the group ascends. They find that the staircases lead to the service level of the arena, one level above the Coenoby, & that those entraces to the matching circular hall are also gated & locked. Though the stairs continue upward, they find them blocked by concrete. Hailleck guesses that the staircases once led to the arena floor.
The group then decides to explore the service level, heading north & east along the circular hall. They find a mess hall for the arena's guards & continue north, where they spot four blue-cloaked arena wardens. Jethias, feeling annoyed by all the sneaking about, decides to confront the guards. Not wanting the impetuous mage to bite off more than he can chew Reinhart, Cim, & Skie join him, hoping they can defuse the situation. Hailleck turns invisible while Fin & Tassilo take Cim & Reinhart's backpacks, hanging back & hiding in a nearby side corridor used for storage.
"Hold!" says one of the guards. "What are you doing here? This is a restricted area!"
"We're with the gladiators," says Jethias.
"Well, this is still a restricted area. I'm afraid you'll have to return to the Coenoby."
"We're looking for a girl."
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that's one amenity Master Raknian doesn't offer. Try getting aquainted with one from another team," he pauses, looking over Cim, "or your own."
"Not that kind of girl," says Jethias, impatiently. "We were asked to--"
"We were looking for a girl on another team," interrupts Cimmerii. "Short, red-haired, homely--goes by the name Fredericka?"
"What . . . ?" blurts Jethias, but quickly clams up as Cim squeezes hard on his elbow.
"Uh, yes," says Reinhart, a glint in his eye. "It seems her dog," he points to Skie, "has worms, and this woman mentioned last night that she knew of some herbs which could treat the beast's condition."
Cim flashes the paladin a look of anger while Jethias smirks & the invisible Hailleck, watching nearby, barely stops himself from laughing.
"Anyway," Reinhart continues, "we didn't see her in the Coenoby, so we looked up here."
"Well, she's not up here," replies the guard. "Regardless, we're going to have to escort you back to the Coenoby, & inform Master Raknian."
"Oh, no need to bother him with that," says Jethias.
The four quickly discover that they have to pay the guards a hefty bribe of 100 gold orbs for their silence.
As the guards lead the four back to the Coenoby, Cim whispers to Reinhart, "Worms, paladin?"
"Well, I thought it seemed appropriate, given recent events," Reinhart whispers back.
Meanwhile, Fin, Tassilo, & Hailleck return to the Coenoby via the spiral staircase they came up.
Back in the Coenoby, Cimmerii finds Fredericka & quickly fills her in, should the subject come up.
Soon Cim, Jethias, Reinhart, & Skie are reunited with Fin, Hailleck & Tassilo. The group waits about an hour before trying their luck a second time.
Moonday, Growfest 3, 595 CY
The Free City Arena, about 10:30 pm
Fin, Cimmerii, Jethias, Hailleck, Reinhart, Tassilo, & Skie make their way back up to the service level of the arena. Going the opposite way from where they encountered the guards, they soon find a number of holding cells & an imprisoned human who seems terrified of them & keeps pointing at another cell. They soon realize that the man is a deaf-mute, & also a bit crazed. Attempting to communicate with the man, he draws squiggly lines in the dust on the cell floor, which Fin assumes represent worms. They also determine that the now-absent occupant of the cell opposite was slain by Kyuss worms. Unable to communicate with the man further, the party leaves to door open to his cell & continues its explorations.
The party continues to explore the service level with little luck, though they do find a number of store rooms, an armory, elevator mechanism, & galley. They soon stumble upon a number of cages holding wild animals: 3 boars, 2 leopards, & a lion. The leopards appear to be trained however, & start roaring, alerting a patrol of guards. Deciding to be more discreet this time, the party hides in the armory until the coast is clear.
Fin soon realizes that anything incriminatiing Raknian is likely to be hidden, so the he decides to start searching for secret passages in some of the areas they've already been. The young rogue finally locates a hidden moving wall in a wine cellar, leading to a staircase leading down into the dark. The smell of rotting flesh wafts up from below.
Fin pulls out his Everburning Torch as Cimmerii steps on the landing & instantly lets out a feeble cry before falling to the floor.
"Cim! What happened?" demands Jethias as Tassilo kneels down to look at the fallen half-drow & Skie rushes to her side.
"She's dead," says Tassilo.
"How?" asks Reinhart.
"Fin, you checked for traps first, didn't you?" instigates Hailleck.
"Ummm. No," replies Fin, ashamed. "I didn't think there'd be any. . . ."
"Well, try thinking next time," berates Reinhart.
"@#$% this," says Jethias. "I'm going back."
"Wait," says Fin. "Let's take her back to the Ceonoby. I'll wake up Verben--maybe he can help."
"Let's go," says Reinhart, lifting up Cimmerii.
The group returns to their room in the Coenoby. Fin fetches Verben & brings him to their room, explaining the situation. Luckily, Verben has Raise Dead memorized, expecting to have to use it during his team's fight, and agrees to help his old friend out if the Steelfire band can provide the diamonds. Luckily, they had some stashed for such an occasion. Once everything is prepared, Verben invokes the power of the Sun Father & Cim returns to life, with a new outlook on religion.
Since dawn is only a few hours away, & given Cim's traumatic experience, the group decides to call it a night & continue their explorations after they rest, since there are no fights scheduled for the day.
Godsday, Growfest 4, 595 CY
The Free City Arena
As no battles for the Champion's Belt are to be fought today, most of the day is spent in rest, recreation, training, and other pursuits. The party meets with Ekaym, who brings a few disposable magic items to help them in their fight tomorrow, as well as their secret mission.
During the day, a number of minor spectacle fights are held in the Arena, which some of the competitors for the Champion's belt watch, including Hailleck, Cimmerii, and Fin. As this is a Godsday, many gladiators take the time to participate in religious services led by visiting priests and even a few of the gladiators. Tassilo leads a small service to Heironeous (attended by Reinhart & Rogets), & Verben leads a Pelorian service outdoors on the arena floor (attended by Cimmerii, Eagle, Aurora, & Legna). The most popular service, however, is led by Krieg & dedicated to Kord (attended by Aushtar, Fredericka, Durlauf, Marcus, Nogal, Donnar, & Pym), & resembles a gladiatorial competition in & of itself, featuring wrestling, boxing, & other feats of athletic prowess.
That evening, after dinner, the Steelfire band continues its explorations, returning to the wine cellar. Fin searches for traps this time, & luckily, it seems that the Glyph of Warding which slew Cim the night before is no longer active. Descending the stairs, the passage ends at a wall. Opening the secret door, the party comes into a small room containing three coffins, from which exit 3 spawn of Kyuss!
The adventurers destroy the 3 Kyuss spawn, then move deeper into the complex. They encounter 6 more spawn of Kyuss and a mohrg in a nearby room filled with athletic training equipment (Hailleck determines this part of the understructure may have once been a shrine to Kord). Jethias uses a fireball to slay most of the Kyuss spawn, and the mohrg takes Reinhart out of the fight by paralyzing him. The others soon destroy the rest of the undead, but not before one of the Kyuss spawn alerts their creator--a tiefling priest of Kyuss named Bozal Zahol.
Bozal Zahol, a middle-aged portly male tiefling sporting a tail, small horns, & cloven feet, enters the room & attacks the party, summoning hell hounds & yeth hounds and casting spells. The tiefling soon learns that the party is more powerful than he expected. Badly wounded, Bozal turns to flee.
"Cretins! You have forced my hand! For this, you will suffer the true wrath of Kyuss!"
However, Bozal's plans are quickly brought to a halt as the party piles on the fleeing priest, slaying him.
Godsday, Growfest 4, 595 CY
Free City Arena understructure
(Most of the following courtesy of Emily, Cimmerii's player)
Cimmerii, Reinhart, Jethias, Fin, Hailleck, Tassilo, & Skie move on to the next room, a 20' by 40' chamber lit by a pair of braziers. A stream of eerie green light flows between a pair of doors on the left side of the room to an object floating over a shrine on the right, surrounded in a green glow. Another door lies on the far wall.
'What is that?" Cim asks Jethias.
"I'm not sure," the mage replies, “but I think that it might be the apostolic scrolls.”
"More importantly," interrupts the paladin, "is what’s behind door number two."
Cimmerii slips underneath the green light, unwilling to let it touch her, and flanks the door from the far side. Reinhart throws open the door, and rushes in to confront whatever might be on the other side. His battle cry dies as they find that there is no one else in the room. The green stream flows through this room as well, bathing a seal on the far wall. The seal is a monstrous skeletal face, mouth open in a scream of triumph, surrounded by a frieze depicting an orgy of worm-infested corpses.
"Whoever built this place has the worst taste in art," Cim says. "What do you all think about destroying that thing?' The others agree, and she takes a mighty swing at the seal with her axe. A resounding recoil shakes her, but the seal is completely unmarked.
Jethias takes a look at the seal. "I don’t think you could hurt this thing, Cim," he says, 'no matter how many time you strike it. I think a disintegrate spell would work best."
Leaving the seal, the party returns to the large chamber, deciding to investigate the door on the far wall. They find that the door leads to the quarters of Bozal Zahol.
Godsday, Growfest 4, 595 CY
Free City Arena understructure
Cimmerii, Reinhart, Jethias, Fin, Hailleck, Tassilo, & Skie enter the room of the Kyussian priest Bozal Zahol, where they find a human female zombie with the pale skin and other features common among the Sueloise. Before the creature can even attempt to attack, Tassilo channels the power of Heironeous, reducing the creature to a pile of dust.
"Good work, Tassilo," says Reinhart, slapping his loyal companion on the shoulder.
"You know," says Fin, "that zombie looked an awful like the description Ekaym gave of his sister. You don't think. . . ."
The other party members groan in unison upon realizing their mistake. They decide to gather the dust and put it in a bag to present to Ekaym. exploring the rest of the room, the party finds an elaborate darkwood trunk. Bound with steel, it measures 3' by 1.5' by 1.5'. A steel plaque depicting a screaming ridden by worms is nailed to its top, & the sides are painted green & black tones with a cycle of apocalyptic scenes that runs around the trunk like a frieze. The images depict a cutaway view of the earth's crust & are divided into 2 horizontal strips showing scenes both above & below ground. Beneath the earth, a figure of a humanoid made of worms lies prisoner in a huge stone monolith, represented in perspective on all 4 sides. Massive green worms writhe in the surrounding caverns & break through the to the blasted landscape of the earth's surface, where they tower over a population of horrible undead & naked, terrified victims.
Waiting to open the chest, the party decides to move on to the next room, where they fight a pitched battle with an alkilith demon, which they eventually slay. Finding no more in the complex other than a privy, they return to the trunk in the Kyussian priest's room.
Fin immediately searches for traps, & believing he has disarmed it opens the trunk with a key found on Bozal Zahol's body. Suddenly Fin vanishes, leaving all of his possessions, including his clothing, lying on the floor!
Investigating the trunk, Hailleck finds that one of the images of victims on the trunk looks a lot like Fin. Unsure what to do, Jethias tries casting a Dispel magic, which returns Fin, naked & unconscious, next to the trunk.
Waking Fin up, they find that he seems to have suffered some damage to his mind. The group decides to take the chest back to their quarters in the Coenoby & decide what to do after they've rested.
Waterday, Growfest 5, 595 CY
Morning, Free City Arena
Cimmerii, Jethias, Fin, Reinhart, Hailleck, & Tassilo awake that morning to learn that they'll be fighting Pitch Blade, a team of two dwarven barbian brothers named Drusfan & Pharbol. since the fight isn't until two pm, & only two opponents are involved, the party's spellcasters decides to memorize a few spells to increase Fin's chances of disarming the trap on Bozal Zahol's trunk. This time, Fin is successful. The trunk contains some gold, a few gems, a few scrolls, a potion, exotic incense, 3 packets of Dust of Tracelessness, 2 blocks of Incense of Meditation, a Murylynd's Spoon, & a Wand of Restoration. The trunk also holds 3 vials, each containing a Kyuss worn in Oil of Gentle Repose. The group then readies for battle.
At 2:00 pm, Cimmerii, Jethias, Fin, Reinhart, Hailleck, Tassilo, Skie, & Molly fight Pitch Blade. The battle is brief but intense, with the dwarves using potions of Flying & attacking with Flaming Adamantine bastard swords. One of the dwarves nearly sunders Cim's bow, but the group quickly defeats their foes. The crowd cheers even louder this time for the Steelfire band.
That day, the Steelfire band gets a chance to see Auric's Warband in action. In addition to Auric & Khellek, the warband consists of 3 flesh golems known collectively as "the Leatherworks," supplied by their manager, Lord Dunsith. Curiously, one of them has the numeral "9" carved into its chest. Auric's group is matched against Final Phoenix--Auric's Warband's tactics seem pretty straightforward--Khellek casts spells from the air while Auric & the Leatherworks engage people on the ground. Anyone getting close to engaging Khellek in melee are surprised when Auric takes to the air to intercept them. All-inall, the party is quite surprised how easily Auric's Warband is able to defeat the numerically superior Final Phoenix--mostly through Khellek's clever use of spells like Confusion & Feeblemind & Auric's relentless assault.
The Teeth of Kord also triumph over their foes, the Unhumans, though they seem to have a much tougher time of it than the other teams, just barely defeating their opponents.
After the fights, Cimmerii, Jethias, Fin, Reinhart, Hailleck, Tassilo, & Skie return to Coenoby, where they meet with Ekaym. Jethias requests Ekaym to purchase a scroll of Disintigrate for him, & their manager promises to bring it the next day. The Coenoby is much quiter this evening, with only the Steelfire band, the Teeth of Kord, & Auric's Warband left. Much of the remainder of the afternoon is spent with everyone moving into their own rooms, though the Steelfire party feels its best to double up--Reinhart & Tassilo in one room, Hailleck & Fin in another, & Cim, Jethias, & Skie in a third.
After dinner, the fights for the next day are posted. Everyone is surprised to learn that Auric's Warband will be facing the Teeth of Kord in the next bout, as traditionally the previous year's winner (should they make it so far) will face an exotic monster in a special exhibition match. Auric & Khellek appear quite perturbed, while the other two teams are somewhat glad they won't have to face their friends. The only clue as to what the Steelfire band will be facing tomorrow is its name: "Madtooth the Hungry."
Hailleck, who appears to have becone quite friendly with Fredericka of the Teeth of Kord, tells Fin that he'll have the room to himself tonight, & wanders off to Fredericka's room.
Just before going to bed, Fin & Cimmerii happen to overhear a pair of guards nearby discussing "Madtooth" on their rounds.
"Yeah, Raknian's had to hire a wizard from the Guild to keep his cage constantly cold," says one guard.
"Oh yeah? I haven't seen him," says the second. "What'd you say he was?"
"A frost salamander."
"No kiddin'?"
"Yep. More trouble than they're worth, if'n ya ask me. I'll be glad when the Games are over so Loris can return him to that wizard in the Yatils."
Fin & Cim share their information with the others, and the spellcasters decide to stock up on fire spells for tomorrow's fight.
Earthday, Growfest 6, 595 CY
The Coenoby, the Free City Arena, in the wee hours of the morning
Reinhart & Tassilo are sleeping soundly when the door to their room is burst in & they are suddenly attacked by Drusfan & Pharbol, the dwarven barbarian brothers they defeated in the Arena several hours before. Unarmored, the paladin & his companion find themselves in dire straits.
Luckily, Fin hears the commotion & runs to their room. The rogue then fetches Cim, who is followed by Jethias. The group falls upon the dwarves, who seem to have far better chances than they did in the arena. The odds are soon balanced when Verben, out to use the privy, overhears & joins in the fight. Hailleck, busy with Fredericka, has other concerns.
Finally, the dwarves are slain, & the group finds itself with a few issues on its hands. First off, unsure how the dwarves snuck into the Coenoby, the group determines they must've been let in, & probably sent by Raknian. Second, they're unsure whether to report the attempt, or if they should just dispose of the bodies. Third, Cim realizes she's topless!
Just then, Khellek comes walking up, curious as to what's going on. Fin quickly shuts the door to the room as Cim distracts the wizard. Khelleck invites Cim to his room, and she agrees, partly to distract him, & partly because she likes assholian wizards.
Meanwhile, the others agree that it'd probably be best not to report the assassination attempt, & strip the bodies of their possessions, then Fin, Reinhart, Tassilo, & Verben hide the bodies in a deep pool of water in the Titan's House before returning to bed.
Earthday, Growfest 6, 595 CY
The Free City Arena
Cimmerii, Jethias, Hailleck, Fin, Reinhart, Tassilo, & Skie wake that morning & begin to prepare for their match with Madtooth the Hungry, scheduled for noon.
"I highly recommend those of us who have spells available to us commit as many fire spells as possible to memory," says Jethias. "I recall from my studies that frost salamanders are extremely vulnerable to fire."
"As if the adjective 'frost' in the creature's name wasn't a dead giveaway," says Hailleck, sarcastically.
Jethias scowls and returns to his spellbook while the others grin.
Shortly before noon, Reinhart, Cimmerii, Jethias, Hailleck, Fin, Tassilo, Molly, & Skie enter the arena, with several pre-cast spells to protect them from the ravages of Madtooth the Hungry.
Talabir announces the party, and begins to announce Madtooth, when a blue-cloaked arena warden runs up and whispers something to the mage.
"Ummm, it seems that the beast-wranglers are having a tough time with Madtooth, but they assure me that he will be here shortly. I apologize for the delay."
The Steelfire band begins to get antsy and the crowd begins to get impatient. Ten long minutes pass--by this time the crowd is ready to riot and most of the party's pre-cast spells have worn off.
"I'm thinking this delay is not accidental," says Reinhart, his companions nodding in agreement.
Suddenly, the eastern arena gate opens & a dozen arena wardens enter, dragging an oversized chariot upon which sits a massive iron cube. The cube's sides bear the word "Madtooth" in bright red letters clenched in the jaws of some immense monster. Curiously, water seems to be sloshing out of the bottom of the cage.
"Ummm. You don't suppose that's melted ice, do you?" asks Cimmerii.
"I fear something is rotten in the state of Greyhawk, Cimmerii," answers Tassilo.
The cage makes slow progress as the guards drag it to the center of the arena, about 50' from the party. Along the way, the cage shakes & rattles as the monster within lets out one tremendous roar after another. The crowd begins to go wild, chanting the creature's name as the cage slowly moves forward.
"MADTOOTH! MADTOOTH! MADTOOTH!"
"Uh, guys--I've got a bad feeling about this," says Fin.
Suddenly, the cage stops, & the arena wardens take hold of long ropes each attached to stratigic pins & clasps in the cage's sides. Each guard retreats about 100' with a rope in his hands. The crowd grows momentarily silent as Talabir speaks.
"And now, the moment you've been waiting for! Watch in fear as these brave gladiators pit their skills against the eternal hunger of the worst the barrier peaks have to offer! I give you . . . MADTOOTH THE HUNGRY!!!!"
The crowd roar as the guards pull the ropes, causing the walls of the cage to unfold & fall away. What stands before the party is no frost salamander, but something all together different. Froglike in shape, with four tentacles in place of front legs, and a toothy maw which makes up most of the creature's head. Atop the head sits a retractable stalk with 3 bulbous eyes. Dark green with a pale belly, a barbed tongue lolls from its mouth.
"Damn. We've been set up!" curses Jethias.
"Any idea what that thing is?" asks Cim.
"I heard legends of such a creature encountered by adventurers in the Barrier Peaks--they call it a 'froghemoth', I think," replies Hailleck.
The creature lets out a thundering roar & blinks its eyes, adjusting to the sudden sunlight, then leaps toward the party.
Much to the spellcasters' chagrin, they soon learn that the beast in extremely resistant to fire, but electricity does slow it, limiting its attacks. The creature manages a few times to latch onto one of the party with its tongue, nearly swallowing them, the the group eventually overcomes the beast, slaying it. As Madtooth is slain, the crowd enters a frenzy, chanting the group's name.
"STEELFIRE! STEELFIRE! STEELFIRE!"
Jethias takes the opportunity to showboat, flying around the arena & slapping hands as he passes, bringing the rest of the band to roll their eyes. Glancing up to Raknian, the party notices that his discomfort & shock is plainly visible for a few moments. Eventually, Talabir gets the crowd settled down & Raknian, his composure regained, hands Ekaym the prize money (10,000 gold orbs) & golden trophy depicting a warrior, & congratulates the party on their victory.
The group then returns to the Coenoby to meet with Ekaym, who provides them with the requested scroll of Disintigrate.
Earthday, Growfest 6, 595 CY
The Coenoby, about 11:30 pm
That evening, the Coenoby is rather quiet, as the only teams left are Auric's Warband and the Steelfire band. After resting, the Steelfire party prepares to sneak off into the area where they found Bozal Zahol. Hailleck, unfortunately, celebrated too much at dinner and drank far more wine than he should have. Cursing the dwarf's indulgences, the party decides to go without him. At that moment, Verben enters the Coenoby, informing the party that he wishes to aid them in any way possible, telling them that he was able to re-enter the arena by using a few enchantment spells on the arena wardens. The party agrees that a priest of the Sun Father could prove useful against whatever lies behind the seal near the Kyussian shrine, and Reinhart, Fin, Cimmerii, Jethias, Verben, Tassilo, & Skie set off.
Earthday, Growfest 7, 595 CY
Free City Arena understructure, about 12:00 am
Cimmerii, Reinhart, Jethias, Fin, Verben, Tassilo, & Skie return to the shrine of Kyuss & arrive at the Apostolic Scrolls & pass through the double doors through which the squirming green beam leads, ending at the stone seal, where a shimmering field of energy surrounds it like a film.
Jethias whips out the scroll of disintegrate which Ekaym procured and prepares to cast it. Cim sends Skie into the far corner of the shrine, where she thinks the wolf will be safe. Jethias begins casting the spell from the scroll while everyone else prepares to face the beast within.
The spell destroys the field, awakening the fell beast within. A mighty roar errupts from beyond the seal, & the entire corridor shakes as the beast on the other side slams against the seal. Suddenly, the beast breaks through, showering all within the hall with bits of stone. Before the party stands a horror like no other seen before.
The urgulstasta, referred to in the Apostolic Scrolls as an "Apostle of Kyuss," appears to be some sort of massive undead maggot or caterpillar. Thousands of eyes stare at the party from the creature's immense, pinkish-yellow head. It opens a slavering maw filled with razor-sharp teeth and lets out a keening roar which chills the party to their core. The stench of the creature's breath fills the hall, a smell of death & rotten meat. Suddenly, the air is filled with a disconcerting buzzing sound as millions of near-invisible hair-like tendrils erupt in a whipping storm from the beast's hide and flay the flesh of the all within forty feet (ie, all but jethias & Skie).
Luckily, the creature is too large to fit its entire body into the hall, though it is able to strike into it with its horrid maw. Reinhart engages the beast in melee, while Cim & Fin shoot arrows at it & Jethias & Tassilo use their spells to blast the beast & support the others.
Verben tries to call upon the power of Pelor to turn the beast, but to no avail. The spellcasters soon find that the beast is spell resistant, & find many of their spells having no effect. Fin finds that his arrows are having no effect whatsoever, though Cimmerii seems to be doing quite fine--in fact, her bow seems to be more effective than Reinhart's blade.
Fin drops his bow & draws his blades to join Reinhart, who finds himself caught in the creature's maw. Luckily, the paladin is able to escape its jaws, though the monster's bite leaves him a bit drained of energy. Jethias uses his Wand of Enlarge to make Fin & Reinhart more effective in battle, while Tassilo & Verben move up to the pair & support them wiith healing, & Cim fires arrows at the beast.
Eventually, through a combination of skill & good fortune, the party is victorious. As the killing blow is landed, the beast lets out a spine-chilling, almost human wail, its massive body crashing against the walls of its confining chamber before finally coming to rest.
The party heals their wounds & wipes the sweat from their brows before searching the room, finding nothing. They then return to the shrine, where they find the Apostolic Scrolls no longer in stasis. Jethias bundles the infernal writings up and puts them in his haversack, telling the others that he intends to turn them over to Eligos. The party then returns to the Coenoby, vowing to get a good night's sleep before their final battle for the Champion's Belt tomorrow.
Earthday, Growfest 7, 595 CY
Free City Arena, about 12:00 pm
Much fanfare abounds on the final day of the Champion's Games, where Auric's Warband will defend its title against the Steelfire Eight. The two groups, after preparing themselves with buff spells (Fin is invisible), enter the Arena as a band of musicians play a lively tune (think the theme to Fists of Fury).
The crowd of 18,000 goes wild as the teams take their positions: Auric's Warband, consisting of Auric (human fighter), Khellek (human wizard), and the Leatherworks (3 flesh golems, one with a large numeral "9" branded on its chest); and the Steelfire Eight: Reinhart Silverfox of Greyhawk (human paladin of Heironeous), Molly (Reinhart's warhorse), Jethias Tolemir of the Duchy of Urnst (human evoker), Hailleck Beeblebrox of Greysmere (dwarven bard), Fin of Greyhawk (human rogue), Cimmerii Acanthus of Bronzewood Lodge (half-drow ranger/barbarian), Skiemachen (Cim's wolf companion), & Tassilo Vinesse of Greyhawk (human cleric of Heironeous).
"What out for Khellek, everyone," warns Reinhart.
"Leave Khellek to me," glowers Jethias.
As soon as Talabir Welik, the Games' referee, shouts "Lay on!" the combatants react. Khellek acts first, flying into the air and casting a Confusion spell upon the party, disabling everyone except Fin and Molly.
Auric, under the effects of a Fly spell, charges over and engages the group in combat, weilding his greatsword and Animated shield. He is quickly followed by the Leatherworks.
The Steelfire group finds itself in dire straits. Luckily, Fin's quick thinking enables him to shake Jethias out of his funk.
"Come on Jethias!" the rogue says, shaking the mage, "We need you!"
Regaining his wits, the mage flys up and dispels Khellek's Confusion spell. The party is then able to regroup and tend to the business at hand. Things aren't nearly as easy as hoped, however. Auric and the Leatherworks prove to be as relentless as Khellek is crafty.
Jethias begins losing his temper as the older mage counterspells every spell the young evoker begins to cast, be it an offensive spell or an attempt to dispel Khellek's or Auric's buffs.
Tassilo uses his wand to call forth a spiritual weapon and spend much of the rest of the battle keeping the party healed. Hailleck also falls into the role of healer, while using his bardsong to inspire courage in his allies.
Cimmerii fires a few arrows at Khellek, finding them of little use against his Stoneskin, then moves to aid Reinhart, Molly, Fin, & Skie against Auric and the Leatherworks.
Finding his mount severely wounded, Reinhart dismounts Molly and orders her to stay clear of the battle, while #9 lays Skie low. Cim flies into a rage and begins to make her way to the offending flesh golem, destroying one of the other constructs in her path.
Jethias recruits Tassilo in his ploy to Dispel Khellek's buffs, and it is soon successful, as the elder mage eventually runs out of spells with which to counter the two-pronged assault. Fin takes down one of the flesh golems as Khelleck's Fly is dispelled and the mage begins to float toward the ground. Jethias then savages the older mage with a Lightning Bolt, nearly killing him.
Reinhart lands a mighty blow against Auric, laying the doughty fighter low. Seeing its human allies unconscious, Number Nine drops to its knees & raises its arms in surrender as a grim Cimmerii advances. She is suddenly taken aback when the creature, tears welling in its eyes, cries out for mercy.
"Please! Not kill! Didn't mean to hurt puppy!"
Hailleck rushes over to Skie and heals her. Seeing that her wolf is okay, the ranger's heart quickly softens toward the childlike construct.
But all is not over. The crowd recoils at the sight of the vengeful Jethias, poised in the air above the unconscious Khellek.
"Your days are at an end, Seeker!" he cries. "No more will you trouble the Steelfire Eight!"
The young mage then casts a Scorching Ray at the nearly dead wizard. Luckily, his aim is off and his spell barely misses Khellek. Undeterred, Jethias then begins to cast another spell.
"Enough Jethias!" shouts Reinhart. "They are beaten!"
"It is not enough! The mage replies. He will seek our deaths!"
"Jethias Tolemir! Stand down!" orders Talabir. "You are hereby disqualified from the Champion's Games. Leave the Arena at once or your entire team faces disqualification!"
Jethias scowls and continues to cast another spell.
"Jethias! Stop!" cries Cimmerii. "Please. It doesn't have to be like this"
The mage turns to look upon the ranger, and with a look of guilt and shame, Dimension Doors away.
Hailleck & Tassilo, meanwhile, move to heal Auric & Khellek, keeping them from bleeding out.
After several seconds of silence, the crowd overcomes its shock and begins cheering and applauding. Calling for silence, Talabir hand Ekaym Smallcask the Champion's Belt once worn by Auric (as well as the cash award of 20,000 orbs), and proclaims the Steelfire band "Champions of the Free City of Greyhawk." The crowd errupts in a deafening roar as Ekaym holds the belt high.
Oddly enough, though the party sees many luminaries in the stands, including Gerdacyr, Jallarzi, Otto, Lord Mayor Gasgal, and Lord Dunsith, Loris Raknian is nowhere to be seen.
Earthday, Growfest 7, 595 CY
That evening
Reinhart, Cimmerii, Fin, Hailleck, Jethias, & Tassilo spend the evening celebrating their victory at one of the finest restaurants in Greyhawk, the Golden Phoenix. They are joined by many friends, admirers, and hangers-on, including Verben, Krieg, Fredericka, Aushtar, and Reinhart's followers (Stalagov, Verin, Kayin, Nogas, Greta, Eliza, and Flinch). Ekaym told the party he'd be late, as he was to meet with Celeste to attend to a business matter beforehand.
When Ekaym finally arrives, he informs the party that Loris Raknian has appeared to have mysteriously left the city! None of his contacts can find the former gladiator. Ekaym tells them that Talabir Welik, the Champion's Games referee, even said that Raknian's mansion appears to lie unstaffed & nearly emptied of its riches.
"I bet he found out we ruined his plans with the ulgurstasta and all," whispers Jethias to the others."
"Indeed," nods Reinhart. "He likely feared we would report him to the authorities."
"Ummm. We are still planning on that, correct?" asks Tassilo.
"Yes," says Reinhart. "Jethias and I just felt it would be best to consult with Eligos first. Any idea where he's fled to?" he asks Ekaym.
"Not yet," Ekaym replies. "Celeste is looking into it, and plans to share the information with Eligos as soon as she finds out. I, however, will be leaving, tomorrow. Raknian can wait. My first priority is to return Lahaka's remains to Cauldron and have her spirit returned."
"We'll be seeing Eligos tomorrow," says Jethias. "He should have some other information for us. We'll inform him about Raknian's disappearance, too, so he can contact us when he hears from Celeste."
After a sumptuous feast, Ekaym bids the group farewell and wishes them luck in their future endeavors. Reinhart, Fin, Jethias, Hailleck, Cim, Tassilo, and Verben then head over to the Blue Dragon Inn, where they plan to have a few drinks before calling it a night.
Earthday, Growfest 7, 595 CY
Evening, the Blue Dragon Inn
Reinhart, Cimmerii, Fin, Hailleck, Jethias, & Tassilo enter the Blue Dragon, where they are greeted with much fanfare and applause at the behest of the owner, Gustin Longpike, who tells the party their drinks are on the house.
The group takes a table in the corner, reserved for them by Longpike. After nearly all of the patrons have congratulated the party and shook hands, the party is finally is able to relax and conversate among themselves. That is, until a well-dressed, silver-haired grey elf swaggers into the room and approaches their table.
"Isn't that..." begins Verben.
"Auric's manager, Moredhel Deimos, Lord Dunsith," growls Reinhart.
"Greetings," says the elf, bowing. "Quite impressive work today."
"Thanks," says Fin.
Cimmerii casts a scolding look towards the young rogue. "So, umm, why aren't you with Auric and Khellek?" she asks.
"Why would I be with them? To nurse their wounds? After all, they failed me, you know."
"Where are they now," asks Hailleck.
"Who knows? Probably drowning themselves in drink and shame. Or, perhaps," he smiles, "planning their revenge."
"Why are you really here, Lord Dunsith?" To warn us?" asks Reinhart.
"Nay, dear lad. I was only making light of the former champion's current state of affairs. I have come merely to offer my congratulations."
"Is that all?" asks Tassilo.
"Well, I'd alos like to offer my assistance, should you ever be looking for work."
"What kind of work?" asks Fin.
"Why, work to which all of your skills are suited, dear boy. Reclaimations, explorations, and similar endeavors."
Suspicious, Reinhart silently calls upon the power of Heironeous to show him Dunsith's true nature. The paladin is nearly overwhelmed at the great feelings of Chaos and Evil emanating from the grey elf.
"Poor paladin," says Dunsith. "Feeling a bit ill? You realize I could have you arrested for such invasions into my person? Lucky for you, I really don't care whether you believe me to be evil or not. Be that as it may, I do have other matters which require my attention. Until we meet again."
At this, the tall grey elf gracefully bows, grins, and exits the drinking hall.
"I don't think we've seen the last of him," warns Tassilo.
After Lord Dunsith leaves, the adventurers fall back into conversation. However, they are soon interrupted by a well-dressed, surly-looking older dwarf approaching their table.
"Moradin's balls," mutters Hailleck.
"Hah! Thought I'd never find your half-baked, human-humping @$$," says the dwarf to Hailleck. "I'd figured you'd be off getting some stink on your johnson, rather than drinking with humans and . . . that," he motions toward Cimmerii.
"What?" says Cim, angrily.
"Hold on, Cim," Hailleck says putting a hand on her shoulder, and motioning toward the cigar-chewing dwarf. "This is Master Fionor--headman of Greysmere."
"Isn't he the one they call 'Fionor the Rude'?" Jethias whispers to Reinhart.
"Damn right, you pixie-d!cked spell-slinger. But what you, your sodomizing paladin friend, or any other goat-f*cker calls me isn't important. I'm hear to talk to Grobadore, not a bunch of c*^t-faced dung beetles."
"Now see here," starts Tassilo.
"Perhaps we should talk in private," interrupts Hailleck, standing up.
"Good idea, crabc*ck," says Fionor. "Nothing more pathetic than the tears of a Heironean rectum-rider."
Reinhart restrains an angry Tassilo while the two dwarves walk away, and Fin, Verben, & Cimmerii share a grin.
"Well, he certainly comes by his name honestly," observes Jethias.
Some thirty minutes later, Hailleck rejoins his friends.
"Well?" asks Jethias.
"I'm afraid this will be the last night we drink together for awhile friends. Fionor says I'm needed back at Greysmere."
"You're leaving?" asks Fin. "How come?"
"He wouldn't say," says the dwarf.
"Could this have anything to do with Remus's death?" asks Cim.
"I'm not sure, but probably not, since he died a hero's death. I'm guessing it has to do with other matters before I even left."
No matter how hard his friends try, Hailleck refuses to elaborate on what this could mean, and refuses his friends' offers of going with him, or helping him evade Fionor. The group spends the rest of the evening remembering their good times together before their friend's departure.
Starday, Patchwall 1, 595 CY
Free City of Greyhawk
Verben joins Reinhart, Fin, Cimmerii, Jethias, and Tassilo at the Blue Dragon Inn that morning to bid Hailleck farewell.
Afterwards, the group heads to Eligos's estate in the Garden Quarter to inform the sage of their findings beneath the Free City Arena. However, upon arriving at the mansion, they find several city watchmen in black tabbards barring the gate. The group is soon told that they are not allowed admission, due to the estate being a crime scene. One guard, recogizing them from the Games, tells them to wait while he fetches his superior.
The group is soon met by a darked-haired man with a mustache, who introduces himself as Captain Tissen. Tissen has an assistant take notes while he questions the party, taking their names, professions, relationship to Eligos, and other information. Upon being convinced they had nothing to do with any criminal activity which took place at the mansion (and being impressed by the Silverfox lineage), Tissen invites the group to follow him inside.
"So, what's going on, Captain?" asks Jethias.
"It's bad business," he replies, leading the group into Eligos's study, where they often met with the sage. The sage slumps forward in his high-backed leather chair, his head laying on his desk in a pool of dried blood.
"He's been dead two days," says Tissen. "Happened two nights ago as far as we can tell. They got his serving man, too." The party is led to the body of Pollard, Eligos' aged elven manservant. The poor butler's throat is neatly cut, as if with a wire.
"Professional work. Neither one of them felt a thing, I'll warrant."
"Bastards," curses Cim.
"He was in the middle of writing this when he was killed, I believe." The captain hands Jethias a blood-stained letter. "You know Elvish?"
"Yes," replies the mage. The young wizard's voice trembles as he reads the letter aloud:
"My dear friend Allustan -- What your adventurers have stumbled into sickens me to my soul. Every new leaf I turn reveals an even darker secret. Here are my notes. You must take them to our one-time master--although I fear even he may be ill equipped for what writhes in all of our futures. Until then..." The note remains unfinished.
"Where are these notes he mentioned?" asks Jethias.
"We found this on top of the bookcase," says Tissen, handing Reinhart a large sealed package. "Did he have any enemies that you know of?"
"Not that we know of," says Reinhart but we have a good idea of who did this."
"Who?" asks the inspector.
"Loris Raknian," says Jethias. "We're the adventurers mentioned in this letter to my mentor. We just recently uncovered some dark dealings by Raknian while we were participating in the Champion's Games. Raknian hired an illithid named Zyrxog and his band of dopplegangers to murder us before, then we he saw we'd entered the games I fear he discovered our connection to Eligos."
"Loris Raknian, eh? Can you back up your accusations?"
"Yes," replies Reinhart.
The party then leads Captian Tissen and a watch patrol to the Free City Arena. When they show him the remains of Bozal Zahol, the alkalith demon, the ulgurstasta, and other evidence, Tissen sends for Tigran Gellner, Captain-General of the Watch, whom Reinhart worked on the Mistmarsh Accord with (see Harvester 15 & 22). Soon the Free City Arena is swarming with City Watch, and Reinhart, Jethias, Fin, Cimmerii, Verben, and Tassilo spend the remainder of the day giving statements.
Patchwall 2-7, 595 CY
The Free City of Greyhawk
Though Jethias, Reinhart, Cimmerii, Fin, and Tassilo are keen to return to Diamond Lake and confer with Allustan, various obligations prevent their immediate departure. Aside from Tigran Gellner asking the group to remain in Greyhawk for a few days in case any more information regarding Loris Raknian should turn up, some of the group have a number of obligations to meet before leaving.
Reinhart splits his time between the Silverfox Estate and the Sanctum of Heironeous. In addition, much of his time is taken up attending to the needs and duties of his followers.
Fin and Cimmerii meet with Tirra at the Black Dragon Inn in Clerkberg, where the elven rogue gives the pair the party's share of the large wager placed upon the Steelfire band in the Champion's Games by the Guild of Theives.
Jethias tends to several guild-related duties at the Guild of Wizardry, while Tassilo fulfills obligations at the Sanctum of Heironeous.
As for Eligos & Pollard, the party learns that the sage's good friend, Judge Porthos, took care of the arrangements, and that neither's funeral is to be held in the city. Pollard's body is shipped to the Ulek States, whilst Eligos is shipped east to Magepoint.
Eligos's package for Allustan is eventually released to Jethias. Though he considers sending it by courier, the young mage fears the documents falling into the wrong hands, and decides to deliver them himself.
Fin asks the other party members if they'd be opposed to Verben joining them when they leave Greyhawk. When no one objects, Fin invites the young Pelorian, who secures permission from his temple to accompany them and investigate the Age of Worms prophecies.
Osric & Iselda, Fin's parents, approach Reinhart and offer the paladin their swordarms in return for letting their petrified friends remain at the Silverfox estate, at least until they've found a way to return them to flesh. Reinhart agrees, and takes steps to ensure that his aunt (Lady Silverfox) and his other relatives don't sell the "statues."
The group arranges to leave the morning of Patchwall 8. Reinhart hires the Able Carter coaching company to see to the transport of his followers (Verin, Nogas, Kayin, Stalagov, Flinch, Eliza, Gerda, Osric, & Iselda).
Starday, Patchwall 8, 595 CY
Reinhart, Cimmerii, Jethias, Fin, Verben, and Tassilo all mount up and leave Greyhawk that cool, crisp morning, striking out along the High Road. Skie runs alongside the horses, while Verin, Nogas, Kayin, Stalagov, Flinch, Eliza, Gerda, Osric, & Iselda all follow in a pair of coaches paid for by Reinhart. The group stops for the night at the Last Chance Inn, at the edge of the Cairn Hills, where the Urnst Trail joins the High Road. The party is greeted with enthusiasm by the gnomish innkeeper, Krink, & his two young sons, Klink & Klank, who last saw Cim, Jethias, Reinhart, Fin, & Tassilo over a month ago (see Harvester 2).
Sunday, Patchwall 9, 595 CY
The group leaves the Last Chance Inn that morning and continues east upon the Urnst Trail. About midday, they encounter a fully-armored horseman blocking their way. The visor on the man's helm is down and he bears a lance.
Impatient, Jethias takes his faithful steed, Bruno, off the trail and begins riding around the man as he issues a challenge. Reinhart accepts and the two joust. Reinhart easily knocks the man from his horse.
The man doffs his helm to reveal the kind face of a somewhat innocent young man. He introduces himself as "Peter," a fellow servant of Heironeous. He tells the party that the Arch-Paladin sent him a message in a dream to wait upon the road until someone took up his challenge, and that he was to offer his services to the first to defeat him. Reinhart takes Peter on as his squire and the group continues on its way.
That evening, they arrive in the mining town of Blackstone and overnight there.
Sunday, Patchwall 10, 595 CY
Reinhart (on Molly), Cimmerii, Jethias (on Bruno), Fin, Verben, and Tassilo leave Blackstone that morning, heading along the Urnst Trail to Diamond Lake. Peter, Reinhart's squire, rides beside them while Skie (Cim's wolf) runs alongside the horses, and Verin, Nogas, Kayin, Stalagov, Flinch, Eliza, Gerda, Osric, & Iselda all follow in a pair of Able Carter coaches.
After about 3 hours on the road, Cimmerii points out an unusual object in the clear sky. Barely visible in the glare, the group sees a dark, winged shape silouetted against the sun.
"What is that?" asks Jethias. "I can barely see it."
"Not sure," says Cim. "It's too far away."
"It looks like it might be rather large," says Tassilo. You think it's a roc?"
"I highly doubt it," replies Cim. "Rocs usually live near mountains, plus it's flight pattern looks all wrong to be a bird."
"A wyvern, perhaps?" asks Verben.
"Could be," says Cim. "Looks like it's several miles ahead of us, flying north." The young ranger spurs her horse forward as the creature vanished over the horizon. "C'mon. It looked like it was heading toward Diamond Lake."
"I'm sure the Garrison could handle a wyvern," scoffs Reinhart.
"Not to mention Allustan," says Jethias.
"I said it could be a wyvern," says Cim, turning to the others. "But it could be something else, too--wyverns just don't fly into heavily populated towns in broad daylight!"
"Sh it," mutters Fin. "You don't think it could be that dragon whose egg was full of Kyuss worms, do you?"
"I hope not," says Cim. "However, it did look to be coming from the south--which is . . ."
"Where the Mistmarsh lays!" exclaims Jethias. "Allustan! Come! We'd best make haste!"
"Peter!" says Reinhart. "Tell the coachmen we're heading on into Diamond Lake. We'll meet them when they arrive. Then catch up to us!"
The group hurries on in the direction of Diamond Lake, fearing what they'll find.
Sunday, Patchwall 10, 595 CY
A few hours after spotting the dark shape in the sky, Reinhart (on Molly), Cimmerii (with Skie), Jethias, Fin, Verben, Tassilo, & Peter ride into Diamond Lake. It seems their worst fear have come to pass. The townsfolk tell of a black dragon calling itself "Ilthane" flying into town just hours ago and terrorizing the town.
The beast is said to have roared Allustan's name several times, assaulting his home and killing his servants, before moving toward the lake in a path of destruction that left many buildings in ruin, torn to bits by its claws or disintegrated by its corrosive breath. The dragon stopped at the town square, where she called the people before her and demanded they turn over Allustan. Several townsfolk died before she was satisfied with the answer given by Gorvic, the assholian half-elven barkeep at the Feral Dog. He told her he'd heard Allustan was spending a lot've time at an old cairn to the north, and was probably there. Ilthane then rewarded Gorvic by slaying him.
The party learns that the dragon did face some opposition. Notably, Valkus Dun tried to stop the beast, even wounding her somewhat, but the Heironean high priest soon fell to the creature's claws & acidic breath. The group is told by the chief healer at the Heironean chapel, Velias Childramun, that Dun survived, but now lies in a deep coma which only time and rest will heal.
Several buildings were destroyed in the dragon's rampage, including the Emporium, Church of St Cuthbert, the Feral Dog, and Venelle's. Venelle herself died in the destruction, much to Cim's dismay.
Captain Tolliver Trask approaches the group and asks them to track down the dragon and slay her. The group agrees. Reinhart orders Peter to await the arrival of the rest of his followers and to see what they can do about helping to recover the dead and repairing things (he has a vision of "GEMA," the Greyhawk Emergency Management Agency). The six then ride toward the Whispering Cairn to see if Ilthane is still there.
Sunday, Patchwall 10, 595 CY
Late afternoon
Cimmerii, Fin, Reinhart, Jethias, Verben, & Tassilo leave Skie and the horses (except for Molly) at the Fant house, and make their way to the Whispering Cairn, just 10 minutes away.
As the cairn comes into sight, the party's nostrils are assailed by an acidic stench. Several trees and patches of ground bear the telltale marks of Ilthane's breath weapon. Finally, the dragon comes into sight, emerging from a nearby cospe of trees and taking to the air, bearing down on the party with its breath weapon, injuring all but the nimble Fin.
Ilthane lands atop the cairn entrance and lets loose with another acidic assault. Reinhart charges forth on Molly, lance low, dealing a substantial wound, but not near enough to kill the beast. Cimerii remains at a safe distance, firing arrows at the dragon, while Fin moves to flank. Jethias assaults the creature with spells, though many fail to penetrate Ilthane's spell resistance. Verben & Tassilo remain near their comrades to assist in healing and alternate with the occasional offensive spell.
"Dragotha take you all!" she roars. "The wizard is mine!"
Though Ilthane proves to be a powerful opponent, she eventually falls before the party's might. As they catch their breath and heal their wounds, the group trembles in excitement after having slain their first real dragon. Jethias, however, has a concerned look.
"What's wrong, wizard?" asks Reinhart. "You should be proud--after all, you just participated in your first dragon slaying!"
"It's not that," says the mage. "I see no sign of Allustan."
"Don't worry," replies Cim, kneeling down at the cairn's entrance. "He may have taken refuge in here."
As the group enters the Whispering Cairn, they see that a previously collapsed passage has been cleared. At the end stands a mysterious black portal. "He must have went through there," the half drow points.
'What was that name Ilthane said?" asks Fin. "Dragotha? Is that some kind of dragon god?"
"Nay," says Jethias. "Dragotha is the name of a legendary dracolich of great power."
"A dracolich?" asks Cimmerii.
"Undead dragon," replies Verben.
"Oh," she says.
"Anyway," continues Jethias. "Dragotha is said to have once been Tiamat's greatest consort, before she slew him for some affront."
The wizard turns to his companions. "Up until now, I thought Dragotha was just a myth."
"Maybe he is," says Cim. "She could've just been cursing us."
"I hope so," says the wizard. "But the way she said it. . . . It sounded as if she was talking about a real creature--not a myth."
"Nevertheless," says Reinhart. We should start looking for Allustan.
At that moment, Peter rides up.
"Ho! I knew you'd be victorious, milord!"
"Thank you, Peter, but I had help," says Reinhart. "How goes it back in town?"
"The others have arrived, milord. Did you find the wizard, perchance?"
"Not yet. We believe he's hiding somewhere in this tomb," Reinhart points. "Could you fetch Verin and a few others to watch the animals while we're gone?"
"Aye, milord. I'll return shortly," says the squire, turning his horse back toward Diamond Lake as the others prepare to enter the Whispering Cairn once more.
Cool! Is there more to follow?
Sunday, Patchwall 10, 595 CY
Late afternoon
The Whispering Cairn
Cimmerii, Verben, Reinhart, Jethias, Fin, & Tassilo enter the Whispering Cairn. They soon notice that a former side passage has now been cleared of rubble, & at at the end lies a wall covered in a glossy black surface, in the center of which is a raised sphere, like a shield boss.
"Hmmm. It resembles a heavily laquered door," says Jethias. "I suspect it's a magical portal."
"Well," says Cim, examining the floor, "it looks like someone passed through it recently."
"Good work, Cim, Jethias," says Reinhart, moving to the portal. "Let's go through."
As the paladin attempts to enter the strange portal, he suddenly finds himself attacked by a strange creature who is somehow inhabiting the portal. It appears in brief flashes as it lashes out to attack.
"An abyssal ghoul!" cries Verben, attempting to turn the creature, with no success.
Where the power of Pelor fails, brute strength & magic succeed, for soon the ghoul is destroyed & the party is able to pass through the portal.
After passing through, the party members see, by the light of Verben's light spell & Fin's everburning Torch, thet they're in a 20' wide hallway sloping sharply downward, filled with rushing, howling winds and think, congestive smoke. Barely able to hear one another over the winds, they determine that the noise comes from small, hollow projections in the walls. The smoke, however, comes from six belkers, which the party quickly slay.
After slaying the elemental creatures, the group destroys the hollow projections, ending the screaming winds.
As they heal their wounds, Cimmerii picks up Allustan's trail & Jethias confides to the group that he suspects the portal they passed through is a teleportational device.
"We're certainly still on the same plane," he says, "but no telling where."
The group follows Allustan's trail down the hall, to a lage, temple-like chamber with a ceiling reaching over 40' high. The chamber is supported by elegant carved stone pillars, and two distinct areas of the floor feature odd clusters of spikes, sticking up like barricades. The room features doors on the left, right, and opposite walls. Carved upon the walls flanking the dors are stone images of tall, elongated humanoids, similar to the forms seem in Zosiel's tomb in the Whispering Cairn. The walls between this forms are festooned with a series of small openings 1" in diameter, beneath which project small basins about the size of an apple.
Strange undulations make the walls & doors seem less like a level & more like a cutain. Winding about the walls are strange runes, and the floor has grooves carved into it, as if they were once channels used to transport water.
Jethias determines the runes are in Vaati, the language of the Wind Dukes (an ancient form of Auran), but is unable to decipher them.
Cimmerii, leading the way, tiggers a trap which causes violent winds to issue from the holes in the wall, throwing her upon the spikes. Upon approaching the door to the right (south), he triggers a trap which causes the basins to emit a plume of white, foggy vapor that melds with the bas-reliefs on the wall, creating fluid images that show Wind Dukes fighting creatures of chaos at the Battle of Pesh, a powerful Wind Duke general forming an alliance with an odd creatues which Jethias identifes as a marut inevitable, and the sam Wind Duke displaying a large round disk in one hand & a long rod in the other.
Unfortunately, the gas turns out to be poisonous, making the reflexes of those who breathe it sluggish. After the gas dissipates, Fin decides it'd be a good idea to scour the room for more traps. He finds several, & works to disarm them.
"Okay, I got 'em all," he says.
The party then enters the south door.
Fin opens the door, which leads to a long hallway with two passages on each side. At the center of this cross-shaped intersection stands an 8' statue of grey stone, depicting an androgynous Wind Duke in robes that seem to be stirred by a breeze, standing upon a 4' pedastal. The statue holds a glittering greatsword of mithral in one hand, and a balance in the other. The hall is lit by six flickering orange & yellow magical lanterns that float around the statue. At the end of each corridor is a door.
"Hmmm," says Reinhart. "I'm not a sage, but I suspect this is some sort of symbol for justice, or perhaps war."
As the group advances, Fin, Verben, and Cimmerii accidentally trigger a few traps in the floor which strike them with the dictum spell. Unfortunately, their cries and curses alert a nearby guardian, who emerges from the left hall.
The guardian turns out to be a noble salamander, who introduces himself as Antyress Redpike, the Earl of Coalchester.
"Coalchester?" asks Jethias. "Doesn't sound like any place on the Elemental Plane of Fire I've ever heard of."
"It's an obscure town, really," Redpike replys. "Actually, it's been so long that they may be calling it something else these days."
Redpike questions the party, who tell him they're looking for Allustan. Redpike denies having seen the wizard and politely asks the party to go back the way he came, as he'd really hate to have to kill them.
"Really, you seem like such nice chaps, and it's been so long since I've had visitors! Guarding a tomb's a boring task, especially if you've been at it as long as I have, but nonetheless, I'm compelled to defend it."
The party refuses, & Redpike engages them in melee, dealing a serious blow to Reinhart with his spear.
"So sorry to stab you in the vitals like that, old chap. I'm compelled by conjuration. Can't be helped."
Soon, the battle is going against Redpike, & he calls out for his huge fire elemental servant, Smoughed, who emerges from the copper doors at the end of the left (east) hall. Redpike retreats into the room behind the elemental, who blocks the doorway.
Smoughed proves quite a challenge. Jethias, intent on unleashing the full fury of his cold spells against the pair, summons his courage and dimension doors into the room where Redpike retreated, which proves to be immensely hot, the floor covered with glowing hot coals. Unfortunately, Redpike holds Jethias fast in his tail. With no way to escape, and close to being crushed to death, the mage calls out for his companions to hurry up.
Fin manages to tumble past Smoughed and attack Redpike. Soon Tassilo, verben, Cimmerii, and Reinhart slay Smoughed and join the rogue in defeating the salamander, rescuing Jethias. The group retreats from the intense heat back into the hallway, where they heal up (& Cim decides to take the mithral greatsword from the statue). Once healed up, they return to Redpike's lair, where they find 300 pound chest made of basalt. Opening it, they find, among assorted coins & gems, a wand of invisibility & a small portable bar of hammered brass containing 4 thick crystal decanters of a rare efreeti brandy called "scarlet ambrosia."
The group then resumes looking for Allustan. Cim notes that his trail leads down the western hall, where it ends at a pair of doors.
The six enter the doors to find themselves in a two-tiered room, some 45 x 30', filled with a purplish light from 4 large chandeliers. The chandeliers, of a silvery metal, are sculpted with tiny humanoid figures. The group sees that the chandeliers have a shape similar to wagon wheels, with each spoke consiting of a long shaft ending in a black metal hoop. In fact, they greatly resemble the talisman of the sphere found in Zosiel's tomb 3 months before! (See Reaping 18, 595 CY)
As they look at the chandeliers more closely, the party sees that each tier of lights are miniature wind warriors fighting against the forces of Chaos in the fabled Battle of Pesh.
The statuetes on one chandelier feature a dog-headed demon surrendering its weapons to a Wind Duke general, while another shows a many-eyed demon kneeling before the same general. Outer spokes show similar surrenders of vrocks, abyssal ghouls, beholders, and slaadi. Some of the wind warrior statuettes hold items similar to the party's talisman of the sphere, using them to ward off and control spheres of annihilation.
Between the four chandeliers hangs a large black sphere, some 5' across. The floor is of black tile, which seems to absorb the chaneliers' light, and even mutes sound. Stairs to the right & left lead up to the second-floor gallery 10' above, framing the lower level with spiraling pillars & arches. Beyond the pillars, on the upper level, lies a second set of double doors to the west, while to the left (south) & right (north) lie identical sets of doors leading from the upper gallery.
The frescos & bas-reliefs depict a lumbering marut inevitable reaching for a crystal disk covered in runes, which rests upon a platter borne by small glowing creatures. Three runes are depicted spilling from the marut's mouth. Unfortunately, the runes are in Vaati, and indecipherable to anyone in the party.
Cim notes that Allustan's path leads to the southern doors, so the party ascends the left flight of stairs. Before leaving, she looks down upon the lower gallery, seeing that a 20' x 30' section of it is slightly different from the rest of the black floor. As her companions open the doors, she decides to drop an arrow from the balcony onto that portion of the floor. Suddeny, the floor comes to life, as a shapeless black pseudopod lashes out. She quickly retreats through the door with her companions, down a log, downward-sloping hallway leading deeper into the tomb.
Cool! Is there more to follow?
Thanks, & yes, there is more to come. Much of this was already chronicled on a local gaming website, but few were able to read it because you needed to register for those forums. My last post was the most recent update to the other site. The journal is currently about 7 sessions behind.
Very nice... I just finished the whole thing and I love all the twists and turns! I hope you have more.
Question: how many game sessions does this cover?
Thanks--glad you like it.
Not including my last entry, the journal covers 27 sessions, if my records are right. I've got about 7 more sessions to cover before I'm caught up to our most recent game (December 8). We play, on average, every two weeks for about 5-6 hours. Aside from AoW, I throw in some side adventures where I can fit them (so far I've done Nicholas Logue's "Cry Wolf" from Dungeon #102 & "The Statue Gallery" from #93). We started this campaign July 22 of 2005 & hope to finish sometime in the summer of fall of 2007.
Sunday, Patchwall 10, 595 CY
Evening
An unknown Wind Duke tomb
Cimmerii, Fin, Reinhart, Verben, Jethias, & Tassilo make their way down the sloping hallway. Suddenly, Tassilo, who is bringing up the rear, cries out. The group turns to see a glimmer of a spider-like creature holding the young Heironean in its mandibles, before suddenly vanishing into the shadows. The group spends several minutes looking for their companion, before deciding to press on & see if he's been taken elsewhere in the tomb.
Allustan's trail leads down the hall into a large chamber, some 40' x 50', with small columns around the edges partially hiding the bas-reliefs upon the walls. Two chandeliers, similar to the ones seen in the previous room, emit pale white light, casting numerous shadows throughout the room. A flight of stairs extend into the room from the opposite wall, atop which stands a set of double doors of blue metal. The stairs are flanked by a pair of wind warrior statues with raised twin swords. A similar pair of staues flank another set of double doors to the left (north), while an unguarded single door lies upon the south wall.
Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, steps Tassilo's kidnapper. The creature parleys with the party, introducing itself as Flycatcher. The beast informs that party that they're tresspassing into the tomb of Icosiol, greatest of the Wind Duke generals, and thet he doesn't take kindly to tomb robbers. The party protests that they're looking for Allustan, whom the creature denies any knowledge of. Eventually, the party is able to convince Flycatcher that they're not common tomb robbers, and he offers them a deal.
"Bring me the head of the one called Moreto and your friend shall be returned unharmed, yes?"
"Who is this 'Moreto'?" asks Reinhart.
"Evil, evil, Lord of the Dead, Marquis of the River. Comes by ghoullight from the darkness beneath."
"Lord of the Dead?" asks Verben. "Is he undead?"
"Undead, nodead, alldead," replies the creature.
"How has he harmed you?" asks Jethias.
"He seeks the secrets of the Lords of the Air, yes, to use for cross purposes to the scions of Law and Holy. Slay him, yes you will, and to you I will bequeath your friend who would grant me sustenance."
"And where is this creature," asks Cim.
"Down, down, down, you must go. Follow you the River of Blood to his home."
"River of Blood?" asks Reinhart, remembering an old tale of murder. "This Moreto doesn't happen to also be known as 'Bluto', by chance?"
"Bluto? No, never no," replies Flycatcher, somewhat confusingly.
The five confer with one another, and decide to take Flycatcher's offer, mainly persuaded by Verben's hatred for the undead. Fin hits upon the idea of seeing if the creature can be given some type of collateral to release Tassilo so he can aid them, & Reinhart is able to talk Flycatcher into releasing the young cleric in return for Cim's flaming adamantine bastard sword and several valuable pieces of jewelry. Flycatcher releases their companion & vanishes into the shadows.
Reunited with Tassilo, the group fills him in and decides to try the doors on the northern wall.
Sunday, Patchwall 10, 595 CY
Evening
The Tomb of Icosiol
The party members go through the doors to find themselves on a slick stone bridge that crosses a flowing red stream about 10-15' wide below. On the far side, the group's light source reveals a dimly visible fortified gatehouse with a huge rusty gate some 15' tall & wide. The pilins of the bridge are heavily eroded, & the formation tilts dangerously to the side.
"That must be our River of Blood," states Cim.
The group begins crossing the dangerous bridge. At various points, Verben, Reinhart, & Tassilo fall in, but are rescued by Fin's judicious use of his rope of climbing. Jethias, of course, flies directly to the other side. The party soon determines that the river isn't really made of blood, but that its color is likely the result of algae or mineral deposits.
The group inspects the gatehouse, finding a set of iron doors inlaid with several glyphs, seals, knobs, dials, & levers. Fin gets to work, & after several minutes, manages to get the doors open, only to find another pair directly behind the first. He then manages to open the second set, behind which lay a third. This goes on until the fourth set reveals nothing but a blank wall. The group soon determines that this "gatehouse" is false--serving as little more than a diversion. After much discusion, the Steelfire band decides to return to the previous room & inspect the door on the south wall.
Sunday, Patchwall 10, 595 CY
Evening
The Tomb of Icosiol
Cimmerii, Fin, Reinhart, Verben, Jethias, & Tassilo enter the door on the south wall. Within, they see a dusty suit of archaic banded mail in a design very similar to wind warrior armor. The armor rests before a small altar, while in fron tof the armor lies a rusty, empty weapon stand. A marble statue of a regal Wind Duke sits in a small nook above the altar. The right wall features a door painted upon the wall.
Suddenly, a spectral figure steps through the "door" painted on the wall and attacks.
"Foot soldiers! Return the shrine treasures to Zifforian!" it cries. Verben immediately recognizes it as a dread wraith, and fails to successfully turn it.
After much effort, the wraith is slain, though some in the party have suffered from its energy draining powers. The group decides to hole up in the room and recover their spells.
Sunday, Patchwall 11, 595 CY
Morning
The Tomb of Icosiol
Cimmerii, Fin, Reinhart, Verben, Jethias, & Tassilo return to the room where they confronted Flycatcher and enter the blue metal doors at the top of the flight of stairs on the eastern wall. They find themselves in a 25'x30' room featuring a small gold statue of an armored Wind Duke. The statue's left hand rests on its sword, while the right is held up to shield its eyes, which seem to be sparkling blue gems. A beam of magical light shines onto the statue from above. The walls of the chamber feature bas-reliefs of Wind Duke servitors bowing & soldiers saluting. The floor is covered in a badly worn carpet--once elaborate but now faded with age. A door lies on the south wall.
After Fin checks the south door for traps, the party opens it to find a large, almost spherical room filled with flickering blue light and a breeze that smells like a thunderstorm. The floor slopes toward the center & the ceiling arches overhead. In the center of the room hangs a globe of crackling lightning. From the ceiling's center hangs a metal spike set in a stone block, its tip touching the top of the sphere's upper curve. Inside the globe floats a human figure in torn & stained red robes, with a long brown beard.
"Allustan!" exclaims Jethias.
The party enters the room to help the imprisoned mage, but soon finds that the ceiling spike pelts them with bolts of lightning everytime they set foot into the room. Jethias casts a dispel magic to quell the spike's magic, and Allustan slumps to the floor. The group grabs the unconscious wizard and retreats to the previous room.
The party, having freed Allustan & retreated from the elctricity-emitting spike, uses its resources to heal Allustan, returning him back to full strength. Once Allustan regains his senses and thanks are given, the mage fills the party in.
"Thanks for the timely rescue," he says. "The dragon?"
"Slain," says Reinhart.
"Impressive," replies the mage.
"Unfortunately, the beast ravaged much of Diamond Lake before we arrived just yesterday," says Verben.
"By the way, Allustan," says Fin, "this is Verben, an old friend from the Temple of Pelor in Greyhawk."
"He's been quite the boon," says Tassilo.
"Tell me about it," says Cimmerii, alluding to her death & raising some two weeks before (Growfest 3-4).
"Well met," says Allustan to the priest. "What of Hailleck?"
"He was called back to Greysmere right after the Champion's Games by his liegelord, Fionor the Rude," says Reinhart. "Nasty fellow. Hailleck left the next day--he wouldn't say why."
"Oh, by the way, Allustan--we won the Champion's Games," Cim says proudly."
"Uh, yes, well--congratulations. Anyway, you say the beast ravaged the town?"
"Yes, master," says Jethias. "The townsfolk say it was searching for you."
"Which explains how it knew my name," the elder wizard replies. "Casualties? Damage?"
"Valkus Dun is in a coma, Cimmerii's friend Venelle was slain, several others."
"Including that @#$% at the Feral Dog,Gorvic," adds Cim.
"A number of buildings were destroyed or damaged," says Jethias, "including the Emporium, the Church of St Cuthbert, and your home, master."
"My home? Is Harvor. . . ?"
"Dead, I'm afraid," says Jethias of the wizard's manservant.
The wizard is quite distressed by this news, but keeps his composure.
"I have assigned a guard detail to keep watch on your house, Allustan, to keep whatever belongings survived safe from looters," says Reinhart.
"Master," says Jethias, "this dragon identified herself as Ilthane the Black, which is the name of the dragon the lizard king we encoutered in the Mistmarsh, Shukak, served. We fear our thwarting of her plans to infect the Twisted Branch's eggs with Kyuss worms led to this attack."
"Likely so," says Allustan. "I should have forseen this--but who knew a black dragon would have such information resources at her disposal to track you back to Diamond Lake, and to me? Obviously, a higher power is involved."
"Umm, about that. . ." says Cim.
"Yes," says jethias. "During the midst of battle, as things were beginning to look bad for Ilthane, she roared, 'Dragotha take you all'--and it didn't sound like she was merely uttering a curse--it seemed as if she was making a promise that her death would be avenged by the undead beast."
"If that is so, then you must finish what I began here," says the Wizard.
"What do you mean?" asks Verben.
"You will need all the help you can get, should Dragotha prove more than a myth. I've spent the last month or so exploring the Whispering Cairn. Several days ago, I excavated a passage & uncovered a new portal. Since you're here, I assume you've seen it. Beyond, I found this tomb. I've been exploring it ever since. Ilthane ambushed me on the way here--from what you've said, it must have been yesterday. She nearly had me, but I managed to escape into the tomb. I was looking for some sort of magic or tool to help defeat her, entered that damnable room, and that was that."
"Magic or tool?" asks Fin.
"Indeed. I believe this tomb is many miles from Diamond Lake, due to the presence of teleportation magic I detected on the portal. This seems to be one of the great tombs of the Wind Dukes. It would appear that it is none other than Icosiol's tomb, in fact."
"Yes, we've determined the same," says Jethias. "You've read the Chronicle of Chan all the way through, master. What does it say of Icosiol?"
"He was one of the greatest generals of the Wind Duke army--one of the seven so-called Wandering Dukes, champions of Law who forged a powerful artifact called the Rod of Law, and used it to end the war against the Queen of Chaos. That defeat shattered the rod, transforming it into what is known today as the Rod of Seven parts."
"Wait. Do you think the Rod might be here?" asks Fin.
"Perhaps, perhaps not--it is said that the pieces were scattered across the planes, so I wouldn't get my hopes up. However, this is an important place. A powerful general is entombed here, and a lot of powerful magic is entombed with him. The Wind Dukes had a habit of burying their weapons with their dead in the months after their victory over Chaos. Not to honor the dead so much as to store these weapons in a safe place, so that should Chaos rise again, the weapons will be available to them."
"That's a relief," says Tassilo. "I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to atone for tomb robbing."
"Note Cimmerii's circlet found in the Whispering Cairn--and Zosiel was only a minor hero among the Wind Dukes. Ibelieve that something powerful indeed is hidden somewhere in this tomb, and I believe it can help us in the dark times that face us today."
"Will you be joining us, master?" asks Jethias.
"I fear not--many of my spells were spent fighting the dragon and getting this far into the tomb. If the way out is clear, I'll be returning to survey the damage to my home."
"Errr. . . " grins Cimmerii. Allustan raises an eyebrow.
"Well, it seems I disturbed something big and black in that room upstairs with the chandeliers and the big black globe thingy."
Allustan sighs. "That 'globe thingy' was a holy symbol, that of Bwimb, a great and cruel Archomental general from the Para-elemental Plane of Ooze who allied with the Queen of Chaos eons ago in the war against the Wind Dukes. The creature, I believe, is an elder black pudding, probably one defeated by the Wind Dukes at the battle of Pesh and forced into servitude to guard this tomb. Likely it will have to be slain before we can leave here, now that it's been disturbed." The wizard turns to the others. "As I am low on spells, would the rest of you mind aiding Cimmerii and I in dispatching that monstrosity."
"Thanks for volunteering me," the half-elf mutters under her breath.
"By the way master," asks Jethias, "were the Wind Dukes known to employ shadow spiders as guardians?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Why?"
The party fills Allustan in on Flycatcher and their bargain. The wizard assures them that the creature is probably lying, and likely wandered into the tomb.
"Figures," says Reinhart. "looks like we can't trust it."
The rest of the party agree to help dispatch the black pudding and return to the room in question. Through use of fire spells and burning oil, the beast proves to be a pushover. Allustan then bids the others good luck on exploring the remainder of the tomb.
Sunday, Patchwall 11, 595 CY
Late morning/early afternoon
The Tomb of Icosiol
Bidding Allustan farefell, Cimmerii, Fin, Jethias, Reinhart, Verben, & Tassilo continue their explorations.
Upon returning to the room where they find Allustan, Fin is struck by a bolt of lightning from the metal spike in the ceiling & immediately imprisioned in stasis in another globe of electricity. Jethias remedies this by destroying the spike with a disintegrate spell.
Moving along, a short set of stairs descending from the room lead to a steep 40' drop. Protruding from the wall below the stairs lies a set of metal rungs. Throwing down a lit torch, the party sees that the floor below is inlaid with a pattern of scarlet tiles that creates a swirling pattern. Two hallways extend from the point below--one east & one northeast.
"I fear a trap," says Reinhart.
Expecting the rungs to give out, Fin searches the rungs & finds nothing. Just to be cautious, Cim secures herself with Fin's rope of climbing & is lowered down by the others. Upon reaching the floor, Cim realizes too late that she's steped on a pressure plate below the rungs. Shortly thereafter, an iron panel slides from beneath the stairs, severing the rope & cutting Cim off from her companions. Suddenly, everyone's stomach drops as they hear the sound of rushing water. Cim scambles up the rungs as red water pours from the upward-sloping northeast passage & flows down the east passage. Above, Reinhart uses his adamantine bastard sword to hack through the iron plate, allowing Cim to rejoin the group.
Though perplexed with how to proceed, the party concludes that they do need to descend & follow the eastern path. They soon hit upon the idea of tying themselves together for stability & letting one party member explore the eastern passage while the others support him.
The idea, however, works better in theory than practice--they soon find the current current too strong, the lead person being carried away & his weight (& those that follow) wreating the others from the rungs.
The current pulls the party some 60 feet down the passage, which opens up to a waterfall descending into a deep natural pit. The group tumbles over the edge, banging against the cavern walls & falling some 150' feet into a natural lake. Jethias & Fin, unconscious & near death, are pulled by their comrades to a shallow spot in the lake & healed. To their chagrin, the party sees that the lake empties into another waterfall which descends even further.
Just as the group is catching its breath, they find themselves fired upon with crossbows by wind warriors--six of them!
After the creatures fire a volley of bolts, they fly deeper into the pit.
The group decides to follow. Jethias casts fly on Reinhart & spiderclimb on himself, while Verben casts airwalk on himself & both cast several light spells on everyone in order to keep track of each other. Reinhart carries Tassilo while Cim & Fin attempt to climb down.
The River of Blood tumbles down another 175' to a deep basin, & continues to flow down from there. Fin navigates the walls fine, but Cim slips & falls dozens of feet into the basin & falls unconscious. Luckily, Jethias sees & dimension doors to her before she can drown, moving her to a shallow spot.
The group finds itself attacked once more by the wind warriors. Reinhart sits Tassilo on a ledge next to Fin & flies to directly engage them. Verben flies down to heal Cimmerii while Jethias attacks the creatures with his magic. Tassilo, meanwhile, uses spiritual weapon & other spells to support Reinhart & Fin fires from the ledge with his bow. Once Verben takes care of Cim, he moves to aid Reinhart while Cim draws her bow. Eventually, the wind warriors are dispatched.
Knowing that to proceed further could possibly be fatal, Cim spies a crevice on the far side of the pit & suggests the group rest there. The six move to the crevice & collapse in exhaustion.
Waterday, Patchwall 12, 595 CY
Morning
The Tomb of Icosiol
Dramatis Personae:
Cimmerii Acanthus of Bronzewood Lodge, female half-drow ranger
Fin of Greyhawk City, male human rogue
Jethias Tolemir of the Duchy of Urnst, male human evoker
Reinhart Silverfox of Greyhawk City, male human paladin of Heironeous
Verben Ranzoff of the Plain of Greyhawk, male human cleric of Pelor
Tassilo Vinesse (Reinhart's cohort), male human cleric of Heironeous
The Star Chamber
Cimmerii, Fin, Jethias, Reinhart, Verben, & Tassilo awake that morning, prepare their spells, and continue their explorations.
Using fly and airwalk spells, the party descends to the bottom of the waterfall, which crashes into a deep pool of rocks in a large cave & slowly continues flowing south. The party notices a pale greenish-yellow light reflecting off the reddish-black river & walls some 100' deeper into the cavern, its source obscured by a curving wall. The same light flickers off the mineral-encrusted ceiling, making the cavern seem as if it's open to the night sky.
Moreto, Marquis of Ravenstone
As the party premares to move toward the light, the light begins moving toward them. Three figures soon come into view--the central figure is a tall, aristocratic male carrying a lantern from which the strange light emanates. The group sees that his skin is sallow, with a somewhat parchment-like texture. His long black hair hangs limply from his head, and he wears a goatee and torn, genteel garments. A greatsword hangs from his back, & 2 mohrgs stand at his side. He stops about 30' away.
"Greetings adventurers. I've been expecting you," he says in thickly-accented Aerdi. "Allow me to introduce myself--Moreto, Marquis of Ravenstone. I assume you were sent here to slay me by that vile beast calling itself 'Flycatcher?'"
"What if we were?" asks Cim.
"Well, then, we would perhaps have a problem. However, I am prepared to make a counteroffer."
"Counteroffer?" asks Jethias.
"Tell me--how much do you know of this Flycatcher?"
"Only that he's allegedly a guardian of this tomb," says Reinhart. "And that we trust him about as much as we do you."
"Hah. He is no guardian--but an insect squatting upon the dead."
"What are you doing here in the first place?" asks Verben.
"I am an explorer, my friend, seeking tales of the ancients."
"How did you get here in the first place?" asks Jethias.
"My people dwell in the shadows of the underdark, in a realm called the White Kingdom. My explorations were cut short by that vile creature."
"So what was this counteroffer, you refeered to?" asks Fin.
"Ah, that. You see, my friends. I see no reason for us to fight. I assume you are here for the same reasons as I. In my explorations, I found this." Moreto pulls a crystaline disk about 1' in diameter from his cloak. "I believe this device can be used to find and unlock the final resting place of this tomb's occupant. Great treasure certainly lies within. Should you slay Flycatcher, this shall be yours."
"Why would you so easily give up such a valuable treasure?" asks Cim.
"My dear drow lady, I come here seeking knowledge, not baubles. I wish only to continue my explorations. Aside from that, this Flycatcher has made it personal."
"It's become somewhat personal for me as well," mutters Tassilo.
"Even if we were to take you up on this 'deal,'" says Jethias. "We have no way of locating the creature."
"That is why I have prepared this." Moreto holds a scroll aloft. "This spell can take you to the Plane of Shadow. The beast's lair is near the room above with several columns."
The party confers among themselves for several minutes. They soon conclude that though Moreto is evil, he has yet to show any hostility toward the party, while Flycatcher captured Tassilo & forced the party to bargain with his life. Though they expect Moreto to double-cross them, they decide to take him up on his offer, then slay him should his intentions prove hostile.
"Moreto," says Reinhart, "though my companions and I have do not fully trust you, we have decided to accept your counteroffer."
"Excellent," says Moreto, tossing the scroll of shadow walk at their feet. "Meet me back here upon completion of your quest."
Jethias then uses the scroll and the six enter the Plane of Shadow & begin making their way back toward Flycatcher.
Waterday, Patchwall 12, 595 CY
Morning
The Tomb of Icosiol
Dramatis Personae:
Cimmerii Acanthus of Bronzewood Lodge, female half-drow ranger
Fin of Greyhawk City, male human rogue
Jethias Tolemir of the Duchy of Urnst, male human evoker
Reinhart Silverfox of Greyhawk City, male human paladin of Heironeous
Verben Ranzoff of the Plain of Greyhawk, male human cleric of Pelor
Tassilo Vinesse (Reinhart's cohort), male human cleric of Heironeous
Bughunting
Cimmerii, Fin, Jethias, Reinhart, Verben, & Tassilo discover Flycather's lair on the Plane of Shadow. Catching the shadow spider by surprise, the party makes short work of him, and recovers Cim's flaming adamantine bastard sword and other items they ransomed for Tassilo, as well as several coins and precious objects taken from the creature's previous victims.
The Seal of Law
The party then makes its way back down the falling river, to the chamber where they encountered Moreto. Expecting to fight him, they find Moreto no longer there. However, his guardian mohrgs have remained behind, and attack the party. The party quickly defeats the creatures, and discovers that Moreto left the crystaline disk behind. Jethias leans over & examines it. On its visible side are three runes--one being Icosiol's personal symbol. The other two runes he determines represent Pesh, the Last Battlefield , and the circular symbol of the Wind Duke armies.
"Icosiol, Pesh, Aaqa," mutters the mage, picking it up. He turns the disk over to reveal the image of a Wind Duke holding the object up before a set of huge black double doors while standing upon a disk of air about the size of the crystal disk itself.
"What do you make of it, mage?" asks Reinhart.
"I believe this is an object called the Seal of Law, according to what I can translate from Vaati, the Wind Dukes' tongue. It seems we need only find the doors depicted and speak these three runes in order to enter the final resting place of this tomb's occupant."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" asks Cim.
The party uses fly & airwalk spells to make their way up the waterfall cavern. Suddenly, after flying up about 300 feet, Jethias stops.
"Wait. There," he says, pointing to a nondescript section of wall.
Fin inspects the wall, uncovering a sliding section of wall leading to a set of ascending stairs carved into the rock.
"I think this is it," says the young rogue.
Entrance to the True Tomb
The stairs lead to a cave some 20'deep by 40' wide. On the far wall are a set of dull black metal doors, some 50' high, and carved with tiny & giagantic runes. The doors are in pristine shape, as if newly-forged.
Reinhart looks more closely at the doors.
"Hmm. Adamantine, I'd wager."
"Can you make out any of the runes, Jethias?" asks Verben.
"They look like various combinations of Icosiol's symbol & curses," replies the wizard.
"Nice," says Cim.
Jethias points to a set of symbols above the large handles. "This one here states, 'Dare not enter the tomb of Icosiol, Lord of Aaqa, Wandering Duke, and Bearer of the Rod of Law. His righteous peace and glorious memory are best left to the ages, and his enemies are best left forever sleeping.'"
Cim moves closer, but then feels a sense of unease wash over her.
"Ugh," she says. "For some reason, those doors give me the creeps. See if you can use the Seal to open those things."
Jethias holds the disk aloft & feels a sense of weightlessness & hears the words in his mind. He then speaks them in the order heard.
"Aaqa, Icosiol, Pesh!" he says. As the last word falls from his lips, the great portals swing open soundlessly, revealing the chamber beyond.