Point of Infinity

2012-03-01T22:53:00.008Z

Lavinia plans to find a quiet place to settle down and live her life in peace.So she bids goodbye, for now, to Lorric.

The next day the Crimson Fists receive a letter from the King granting them passage on his Flagship 'HMS SCIMITAR' to investigate the events in the Thunder Sea. The Fists 'Shadow Walk' to Sharn where the 'Scimitar' is docked and are welcomed aboard and briefed by the Captain of the vessel.
They spend the night in Sharn visiting their old comrade Anvil. Kapek also picks up Hurricane his faithful Glidewing.

On the first tide the next day the 'Scimitar ' sets sail with the Fists aboard.

On the fourth day of the voyage the sky begins to darken and clouds gather as the 'Scimitar' heads into what is obviously a huge storm.

On the 11th day of sailing the Fists are informed they are nearing the epicentre of the storm, where the ship will not be able to survive for long. A 6,000 foot high column of writhing darkness rears out of the sea topped by what looks like a black sphere.
Flying potions are quaffed and Kapek mounts Hurricane and the Fists fly up to examine the Sphere.
When they get within a 100 feet of the Sphere Kapek fires a clutch of boomerangs at the Sphere in the spirit of experimentation. Where the boomerangs hit cysts sprout on the surface of the Sphere, then burst spraying foul liquid. Tentacles emerge from the cysts and the cysts detach themselves from the Sphere and move towards the Fists.
Lorric launches himself at one of these strange creatures, attacking it. Another attacks Kapek sucking the life from him in what seems to be a 'Harm' effect ! Kapek hastily retreats, Wil casts 'Incite Riot' on the creature but the spell has no effect. Mirra begins to blow on her horn to inspire her comrades.
Ajax joins in the attack with Lorric and together they slay their creature, as it dies a Fire elemental bursts from within the shell of darkness and hangs in the air for a second before plunging the 6,000 feet down to the ocean below. A unfortunate fate for a Fire elemental.
The Fists feel reality try to alter itself around them but they refuse to accept it and the feeling fades. Then the world whirls around them as another effect happens.
Two of the creatures charge Ajax, one striking him with physical blows the other invoking a 'Harm' on him. To add insult to injury Ajax is then 'Confused' and flees the battle.
Kapek uses Hurricane to the utmost, swooping in and strafing the creatures with Force boomerangs and then sweeping away. Wil casts 'Solid Fog' on two of the creatures.
Two of the creatures struggle in the 'Solid Fog',another one starts to return to the Sphere and the the last starts to merge with the Sphere.
Ajax driven by the spell on him charges one of the creatures in the 'Solid Fog'. Lorric joins him and it is soon slain, transforming into a Water Elemental before plunging away.
As one of the creature is fully absorbed by the Sphere the other creature in the 'Solid Fog' hits Ajax with a 'Harm', he responds with a storm of blows. Another flurry of boomerangs from Kapek finishes the creature which transforms into a Earth elemental
Wil casts 'Fox Cunning' on Kapek and Mirra 'Inspires Greatness' in him and Kapek fixes a Third Eye of Knowledge to his forehead. However even these preparations are not enough to overcome the strange hindrance to healing magic. Despite his best efforts Kapek fails to invoke the power of his Dragonmark and the two 'Heals' he can cast are wasted.
Meanwhile Ajax still under the influence of the 'Confusion' spell fires his longbow at the Sphere. Where the arrow hits a new cyst starts to form.
Wil quickly casts 'Break Enchantment' on Ajax and they move away from the cyst towards the base of the Sphere. There they find a rather disgusting looking valve into the interior of the Sphere. Having healed as best they can with Wands, Healing Belts and Potions ( Ajax using potions he's been carrying around with him for months) they head into the Sphere.
Inside the Sphere is composed of slimy flesh and pools of phosphorescent liquid. Lorric sneaks ahead but as the walls of flesh start to close around them to form a sphincter the rest of the Fists leap forward to avoid being crushed. The exit is now firmly sealed behind them.
Eight strange three-legged creatures (DRAUDNU) arise from the flesh of the floor. Kapek reacts instinctively with boomerangs and Wil follows up with a 'Flaywind Burst' spell and Lorric pummels one with his tankard. The creatures respond with numerous slashing hooks.
Ajax rips one apart and Wil casts another 'Flaywind Burst' and Lorric finishes off another creature.
The Draudnu have amazing reach but their attempts to hook the the Fists and bind them to the floor are fooled by the 'Freedom of Movement' spells on the Fists.
It is a long and bloody fight but only four of the Draudnu are left when a familiar looking type of demon appears. Seen last by the Fists in Pazunia at the head of a caravan of demons, it is another of the HYENA HEAD type. It rushes into the room and casts an area 'Dispel'.
Mirra is crushed as another section of the wall contracts on her but as she manages to eventually scramble free further into the Sphere.
Lorric charges Hyena Head, who throw his axe into the air so it can attack Lorric on its own as he claws at him.Meanwhile Ajax faces off against the remaining four Draudnu. Ajax slays one and Kapek's boomerangs another.
Mirra unleashes a cacophonic burst that strikes the creatures but also the wall causing a cyst to form, to all the Fists horror.
As it forms the battle goes the Fists way. Ajax slays one of the Draudnu, Wil 'Dispels' Hyena Heads axe and then Lorric slays him. Finally Ajax slays the last Draudnu.

2012-02-24T00:36:00.008Z

As the Trumpet Archon is freed the rest of the group quickly equip Lavinia with some spare magical equipment. Then everybody gathers in a tight group around Wil and he casts 'Invisibility Sphere' and together they move towards the exit. ( As they leave the ground shakes again and continues to shake. They hear the earth start to crack open).
As the Fists open the doors that lead onto the bridges that span the gap between the two islands they see gout's of lava erupt from beneath them. The whole island looks to be tearing itself apart.
A quick check reveals all but Lavinia and Kapek have ways of flying. Lorric donates a flying potion to Kapek and carries his mother and the group runs across the increasingly precarious looking bridge. As they cross the water around the islands bubble and two gigantic sea creatures burst from the sea.Behind them the volcano erupts and a gargantuan Magma Drake emerges from the volcano ridden by a sinister black armoured figure.
The group reach the other island and belt through the cages, as they go Wil casts three 'Knock' spells freeing the angels imprisoned there (including the two they'd talked to earlier).
They exit the building into a gathering of fiends the like of which even they have not seen before. A Balor sounds a mighty horn, the two sea creatures move up towards the group, two Mariliths ready martial arts weapons, another Balor bears a banner flanked by two more Balors, four Retrievers and a Admantine Golem bring up the rear. In the skies overhead four Vrocks circle. Behind them the Death Knight on the Magma Drake is joined by several dark flying figures and a score of Shadows.
For once the Crimson Fist need not debate what to do, with one mind they break left and run for the sea as the angels rocket straight upwards. Mirra casts 'Detect Magic' and yells that the Forbidance spell ends a few feet from the edge of the island.
As the Fists pelt at lightning speed to the edge of the island the sea boils again as the enormous form of Demo-Gorgon himself emerges from the water. He is too late however as is Vanthus who yells out his wife name desperately but the next instant the Fists pass the edge of the Forbidance and Mirra casts 'Plane Shift' and they are gone.

The Fists and Lavinia appear on the Kings Road some 200 miles from Sharn. They 'Shadow Walk' of to WROAT, where the 'Long Dance' festival that Lorric has been looking forward to for months is due to start in a few days. Open arriving Kapek purchases a scroll of 'Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum'. It is cast and the group gather to hear the secrets Lavinia have protected for so long.
She tells them of the 'Bastion of Souls' where souls reside before they are born. It is quite simply the source of all life on Eberron.A dragon, ASHARDOLON, has taken up residence in the Bastion, he contains the heart of Gorgoroth which is slowly corrupting him. It is this heart that must be destroyed before it reunites with the rest of Gorgoroth and ends all existence.
As the day slips into night the Fists notice the clouds have formed into a shape, it seems almost like some from of Dragon Mark.

The next morning the Fists enquire at the Temple of the Sovereign Host to see if Celedrus can be returned. The Temple refuse to help a non-believer however and a 'Speak with Dead' also produces no results.
With some sadness they find a quite spot and build a pyre where they bid their unlucky comrade a dignified and final goodbye.
After this private moment they are approached by an elven noble lady. She claims to be from a group calling itself the Cabal that is aligned with Gloriatrix. Indeed her knowledge of the Fists time with Gloriatrix seems to confirm her claims. She has a warning for the Fists, she informs them that in a few days Shotragot will rise in the Thunder sea causing so enormous a flood wave that even Wroat will be washed away.
The Fists take the opportunity of being in a big city to convert the loot they gathered in the Abyss into cash or different magical items.
Lorric and Wil decide to speak with the Minister for Public Works about the coming flood. The Minister is initially understandably doubtful but when Wil offers 52,000 gold ( his share of the Abyss loot) to build flood defences he starts to listen to them seriously.
The astonished, and now worried, Minister directs them to the Palace where. after a very short delay. they are granted an audience with the King. Wil's offer of money and the Crimson Fists reputation as heroes convince the King and they are promised that preparations will be made.

The festival is a great success with the Fists throwing themselves into it and competing in whatever tournaments they can. When not they enjoy the food, company of charming members of the opposite sex, bards and other entertainers,betting on the events or any of the dozens of other diversions the Festival offer.
Lorric is in his element, showing off his unconventional fighting style to his fellow monks ( and knocking down more than a few ambitious young monks in matches) and being granted the honour of sparring with the Grand Master of his order.

On the final day of the Festival the river running through Wroat is thick with silt and rises a few feet but that is the worse that happens. That night the Fists are summoned to the place by Royal Order. There before the Court the King proclaims that thanks to their warning Royal Mages were ready with Force Walls and diverted the water so the damage was minimized. Because of this and their heroic acts of the past the Fists were by Royal proclamation ennobled.

Into the Abyss

2012-01-06T01:13:00.010Z

Wir, 11th - Mol, 16th Rhann 998 Y.K.

In their few days in Sharn the Fists see to individual errands.

Kapek makes himself known to House Jorasco.

Lorric visits the House of the Long Arm's 'Joy Street Hostel' to speak and spar with his old master.

Ajax hires a Cleric to send 'Sendings' to Clian and Yulunga.

Mirra speaks to the Carronberg Chronicle to discuss the possibilities of a novel based on her adventures and pick up her back pay.
They all convert the loot from the tower into new magical items that will help with their quest into the Abyss.

Mol' 16th Rhaan 998 Y.K.

But eventually the time comes for them to brave the Abyss. The Crimson Fists 'Teleport' to Stormreach and then 'Shadow Walk' to the Necromancers Tomb. There they enter the portal to Pazunia where they intend to bargain for the exact location of the prison that holds Lorric's mother.

They appear in the crumbling remains of a building. Kapek notices the tracks of a large snake-like body and two withered feet. It doesn't take much intelligence to realize they are the tracks of the Liche and Marilith they have recently defeated. Ajax sniffs the tracks and picks up the scent of the Liche. They decide to follow it, hoping it will take them to the nearest city.

After a short while Lorric and Kapek notice a cart ahead of them. It is moving towards a Keep in the far distance but the Fists realize they will catch up with the cart before it reaches the Keep.

As they get closer they see that on the cart is a cage with a prone figure in it. Mirra identifies the captive as a PALRETHEE demon. The cart itself is pulled by three BLOODFIENDS. The cart is also accompanied by three RETRIEVERS and a 12 foot tall, red skinned, hyena headed creature no-one recognises.

As the Fists approach a Marilith suddenly appears by Hyena Head who seems to be in charge of this weird group. Mirra addresses Hyena Head in Abysal but he is in no mood for negotiation and makes no attempt to hide the fact he intends to capture the Fists and sell them as slaves.

Happy that everybody knows where they stand Lorric and Ajax charge the cart only for Hyena Head to vanish! The Retrievers open fire, one shooting a line of electricity at Kapek, one a line of Cold at Wil and one a line of acid at Lorric (this one misses).

Celedrus replies with a 'Flame Strike' and Mirra intones tales of heroism to inspire her comrades. Then two of the Bloodfiends unleash 'Chaos Hammers' on the Fists. The lawful Wil reels under the effects of these attacks although no-one else seems affected.

A 'Blade Barrier' appears (which comes as no surprise to any of the Fists who are becoming veteran Marilith fighters) but Ajax won't be denied. He Shifts and Rages and then charges straight through the Blade Barrier and slays one of the Bloodfiends.

An invisible power tries to throw Kapek into the 'Blade Barrier' but he resists its effects.

Suddenly the main body of the Fists is hit by the appaling power of a 'Blasphemy' spell. The unholy power swamps the group and Kapek's dinosaur instantly perishes, Celedrus vanishes as he is thrust out of this dimension, Mirra collapses completely drained of strength and Kapek is 'Dazed' and 'Weakened'.

Lorric's keen ears hears the intoning of the spell coming from 20 feet above them. With one leap he soars up and attacks the invisible caster.

Ajax is charged by two Retrievers and clawed and eye-rayed. Ajax rapidly retreats so his opponents must come to him and slays a Bloodfiend.

The Marilith invokes another 'Blade Barrier' that both cuts off Ajax's retreat from his opponents and goes straight through the main group of the Fists, catching a Dazed Kapek with its whirling blades.

A devastating blast of sound rips through the Fists from their invisible assailant above. Lorric's keen senses identifies that the caster, wary after being hit before, has moved to 40 feet above the Fists. Luckily he had come prepared and chugs a specially alcholic 'Fly' potion.

More ranged effects miss Ajax thanks to his new Ring of Entropic Deflection as he tumbles around and through his opponents and manages to slay a Retriever.

The Marilith moves up in time to be caught in one of Wil's 'Flaywind Bursts' along with three other opponents.

Kapek pulls himself together and opens up on the invisible caster but he slides between the boomerangs then fires a spell at Lorric that attempts to suck out his soul. Lorric resists and then flies up to attack his foe.

Ajax is once again attacked by two Bloodfiends and a Retriever. He tumbles again and slays the Retriever. Kapek invokes his Dragonmark and casts 'Heal' on himself, Ajax, Lorric, Wil and the undead Bloodfiend (which perishes in the surge of Positive Energy).

The invisible caster unleashes a storm of blows against Lorric, revealing it to be Hyena Head, but every attack misses the agile Lorric. Lorric flurries back and stuns it, Hyena Head plunges out of the air to impact with the ground with a sickening thump.

Ajax slays the last Retriever and is then attacked by the Marilith.

Lorric drops down and attacks Hyena Head as Kapek pounds it with boomerangs. They slay it as Ajax slays the Marilith.

*Ajax comments
After his last experience getting slaughtered by a Marilith after having all of his powers removed by an Anti-Magic Field Ajax had been itching for a fair fight with one.
He falls on her with savage fury and within a few seconds has ripped her to shreds. Ajax feels his pride is restored, he's just disapointed that as a summoned creature she returns to her home plane before he can take her ears.

The Fists gather around the late, and very unlamented, Hyena Head in order to loot him. They curse bitterly as his Dancing, Vorpal, magical axe melts into nothing but do take his bracers, rings and a horn he was carrying.

Mirra speaks in Abyssal to the Palrethee demon and learns his name is AZAEL and he was being taken to be executed for failing his lord Orcus. This seems to provide a basis for negotiation and so an agreement is struck. Azael will guide them to THE GAPING MAW, the Plane on which DIVIDED'S IRE (the prison where Lorric's mother is held) rests.In return the Fists will free him from his cage.

With the agreement made Azael also reveals that Vanthus has been sent to DIVIDED'S IRE to recover 'the heart of Gorguth'. Also that Vanthus is now a DEATH KNIGHT, news that is greeted with quite understandable concern by all.

Attempts to pull the cart fail dismally so the Fists are forced to free Azael from his cage, although Mirra first 'Suggests' to him that he should honour his deal. So lead by their new acquittance the Crimson Fists forge onwards.

After about an hours travel they notice a cloud of winged creatures hovering over the cart they had left behind. An examination through Mirra's telescopes reveal them to be dozens of VROCKS.

The VROCKS form up into a flock and fly in pursuit of the Fists. It is quickly decided not to stick around for them.Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and the group flees. Quickly they reach the portal to THE GAPING MAW and without hesitation jump straight into it. They plummet downwards until they splash down into the ocean of THE GAPING MAW.

The Fists gaze at the plane they've arrived at. Ocean stretches for as far as the eye can see, broken only by the occasional island.

Kapek deploys a folding boat and all quickly climb aboard. They start to paddle towards a nearby island with twin towers on it until Azael points out that this is ABYSM, DEMOGORGON'S fortress and capital.

The Fists are just discussing the best route to DIVIDED'S IRE with Azael when Mirra receives a 'Sending' from Celedrus.He informs her he is lost in a strange land, with flights of dragons in the sky. He is near a carved Dragon's head, the size of a mountain. From his description Mirra guesses he is in ARGONNESSEN, near the Face of Eberron.

Unfortunately going to aid Celedrus involves abandoning Azael on this plane. Lorric makes the decision and pushes Azael overboard. Ajax feels this is a little hard on the demon and use his Sandals of the Light Step to give Azael an hour of 'Water Walking' and tosses him a 'Fly' potion ,which together should be enough to get Azael to shore.

Sojourn to Argonnessen

Mirra extracts a scroll of 'Plane Shift' and casts it and the Fists are transported across the Planes. They appear on a vast grassland somewhere in Argonessen. Another 'Sending' to Celedrus reveals he has been captured but is safe. He tells them to come to him and they will be found, he also gives them a code word that will help them, 'GLORIATRIX'.

Kapek notices some dark shapes in the skies flying towards them. The Fists hide, some more successfully than others. As the shapes get closer it becomes clear they are two huge Dragons, a red and a blue. Then 500 feet from the Fists they simply vanish ! Kapek and Ajax activate the blind sight ability of their Scout's Headband and Wil casts 'See Invisible' on Lorric.

As the Dragons circle, its obvious they've spotted some of the Fists so Wil stands up and addresses the Dragons. He uses the code word they were given. The Dragons recognize the name GLORIATRIX as the ruler of another area and point the Fists in the right direction but demand a tithe for crossing their land.

The Fists gather to discuss what they are prepared to give as tithe but also use a 'Message' spell to discuss other matters secretly. Wil and Lorric are positive the Dragons intend to eventually kill them anyway and so, trusting their comrades judgemen, the Crimson Fist attacks.

Lorric charges the red and with a mighty blow 'Stuns' it, Ajax follows up with his claws and Kapek with boomerangs. The blue sweeps down and breathes a cone of lightning on Mirra, Kapek and Wil.

Lorric finishes the red with a dazzling series of blows. Ajax moves up on the blue and quaffs a 'Fly' potion. Wil hits it with a 'Flaywind Burst' and Kapek with more boomerangs. The blue flees, to some mockery.

Ajax under the effects of the 'Fly' potion pursues the blue as Mirra 'Magic Missiles' it. Suddenly the blue's escape plan is foiled as Wil's 'Solid Fog' spell surrounds it. With no choice it turns and attacks Ajax but is no match in melee for Ajax and Lorric (especially when Lorric stuns it) and soon Ajax lands the fatal blow and the blue joins its comrade in death.

The Fists start to examine the Dragons for anything to loot when the more sharp-eyed of them spot a large group of creatures approaching from the same direction the red and blue had come under the cover of an 'Invisibility' spell. It is an eclectic group containing Giants, armoured T-Rex's, humanoids and burrowing creatures, all surrounding a gargantuan spine covered Dragon.

A quick look at the number of opponents decides the Fists as to what the wisest course of action is. Kapek uses his Bag of Tricks to summon a Glidewing for him and Mirra to ride. Ajax transforms into his Primeval Dire Tiger shape, sensing a big fight coming.Then Wil casts an 'INVISIBILITY SPHERE' on them all and they retreat.

Three rocks impact around the Fists but they keep going. Suddenly the Dragon surges ahead of its companions and draws level with the Fists ( although above them). In a powerful voice it demands they stop, this order is completely ignored.

The Dragon screams "GARNGRATH Arise!" and the ground shakes as a monstrous creature emerges from the ground. Lorric immediately charges this huge opponent and in response it fires a cone of light from the horn on its head which doesn't effect any of the Fists but does petrify Kapek's Glidewing and dumps him and Mirra unceremoniously on the ground. Ajax joins in Lorric's attack and then the Dragon, to all the Fists surprise, retreats back to the main group.

The Garngrath shoots orange light from its horn at Lorric, which he nimbly dodges and then it lowers its head, opens its mouth and like a plough it shoots forwards tearing the earth apart as it comes. Ajax and Kapek are caught in this unstoppable charge and both disappear into its huge gullet. Ajax is not amused and rips the Garngrath's guts apart from within its own stomach.

*Ajax comments

To Ajax being swallowed just means its much easier to hit his opponent.

Wil attempts to hinder the Dragon by casting 'Solid Fog' on it as he did so successfully with the other Dragons. However although the spell is successfully cast as it forms around the Dragon he suddenly slips out of the area of the spell.

As Wil summons two Dire Badgers in an attempt to dig out his two comrades (who are emerging from the Garngrath's stomach underground), Lorric examines the corpse of their foe and is suddenly struck by an overwhelming urge. Unable to stop himself Lorric pulls loose the Garngrath's horn and places it against his own forehead where it instantly grafts itself to his head.

A shock wave slams through the earth hitting every member of the Crimson Fists and killing Wil's Dire Badgers, making it a very bad day for creatures 'Summoned' by the Crimson Fist.

The main body of enemies is now roughly 200 feet away and from a rider atop one of the T-Rex's comes a 'Meteor Shower'.

Ajax having pulled himself out of the Garngrath, grabs Kapek and uses his Fleet Warrior Array to 'Dimension Door' them to the surface. Just in time for another volley of boulders to land on them and for one of the burrowing creatures to launch another shock wave at them.

The first wave of enemies, the humanoid creatures, who are now seen to be Half-Orcs, move to within 75 feet of the Fists. Wil casts 'INCITE RIOT' on them but only one is affected.

The second wave of the attack, a line of Giants, start to cast and Lorric charges the biggest one as Mirra uses her 'Horn of Resilience'. Although Lorric distracts his Giant the other four successfully cast 'Dimension Door' and appear in flanking position around the main body of the Crimson Fist.

Ajax charges the burrowing creature and rips it to shreds with his claws as more boulders slam into the main body of the Fists.

Three Half-Orcs screaming berserker battle cries and with flaming weapons charge and surround Ajax. Their weapons striking deeply into the Shifter. On the other flank four more do the same to Kapek and one attacks Wil. The Fists are all now deeply engaged with multiple enemies and split up across the battle-field.

Wil tumbles to join Kapek and casts 'FRIEND TO FOE' on the Half-Orcs attacking the Halfling. They prove about as good at resisting a spell that causes them to attack the nearest thing mindlessly as you'd expect a bunch of Raging Half-Orcs to be and all four fall to attacking each other.

Seeing the Half Orcs in front and the Giants coming in from the flank Mirra casts 'Dimension Door' and whisks herself, Kapek and Wil away from the fight. Lorric pulls back to the Giants who had been threatening Mirra Et Al and 'Stuns' one of them with a cunning nerve strike but two of the Giants 'Dimension Door' after Mirra.

Ajax, hurt badly by the Half-Orcs, pulls back to Lorric and kills one of the Giants.

Seven of the Half-Orcs confused by Wil's spells fight among themselves, the remaining three charge Ajax. They are joined by another Giant who strikes Ajax a powerful blow. Aware that only the boosted vitality of his Primeval Form is keeping him alive Ajax runs like hell.

Back with Mirra's group Kapek invokes the power of his Dragonmark to 'Heal' himself and his two wounded comrades. This seems to make him of huge interest to the two Giants that followed them. Although they still attack all three of the Fists who are there.

Wil casts 'Blast of Sand' on the Giants and then runs back to join Lorric. The Dragon yells "Regroup on me!" in an attempt to re-organize his forces and then proceeds to try to calm down the surviving, squabbling Half-Orcs.

Kapek tumbles to Mirra who then 'Dimension Doors' him to Ajax and Kapek uses his Dragonmark for the second and last time that day, to the sorely injured Shifter's immense relief.

The four Half-Orcs chasing Ajax reach him but Ajax, now feeling more like his old self (or at least as much as he could while being a Shifted, Raging, Primeval Dire Tiger) kills one and injures another. Kapek pounds another with Force Boomerangs, killing it.

Where Lorric and Wil are fighting, Lorric stuns another Giant, as he strikes at it he suddenly discovers his fists are surrounded by fire but he has no idea why. The rear-most Giant obeys orders and 'Dimension Doors' itself back to the Dragon.

Ajax slays the last two of his Half-Orc attackers. Then Kapek leaps onto his back and they fall back and join up with the rest of the group. Then powered by a 'Haste' from Mirra they all flee.

The Dragon flies over them again and declares that if they are still on his land tomorrow he will return in greater force then he turns and flies back to his forces

As they retreat the Fists wonder what just happened. Did the Dragon just regard the fight as a game which it was now tired of ? Did he feel he'd lost too many of his forces to continue to attack an enemy that was retreating? Or did he simply feel it was approaching the point where he could only win if he himself joined in the fight and just wasn't prepared to risk his own skin?

The Crimson Fist retreat, aware the Dragon is still watching them from on high. However it makes no move and they move quickly away from it. When night falls they decide to keep going for another four hours, covering 25 more miles before finally stopping to rest at 11.00 p.m. Watches are set but the night passes with no problems.
At dawn the spell casters in the group renew their spells. Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and the Fists are on their way again. After four hours travel they notice the land starting to change, moving slowly from grassland to pasture and rolling hills. After two more hours the breathtaking sight of the Face of Eberron comes into view.
After only a little more travel the Fists are suddenly hurled out of the shadow realm they were travelling in into the real world. As they start to pick themselves up they notice eight Silver Dragons swooping down from the sky towards them. The Dragons land some 300 feet from the group and then their leader walks closer to the Crimson Fist.
Mirra addresses the Dragon explaining they wish to speak to Gloriatrix. The Dragon says they are expected and makes an arcane gesture with one claw and a huge stone spire shimmers into existence in front of them.
The Dragons lower their heads and, to the Fist's astonishment, politely request that they climb on board. After some understandable hesitation each member of the Crimson Fists climbs onto one of the Dragons. The Dragons launch themselves into the air and spiral up to the top of the Spire, a quarter of mile straight up. As they fly up the Fists notice huge caverns carved into the sides of the Spire where hoards of Dragons and other creatures can be seen going back and forth about their mysterious business.
At the very tip of the Spire the Dragons fly into a cavern and let the Fists dismount. The Dragon who addressed them transforms into a elf male who leads them further into the tower. In a massive room dominated by a pile of gold big enough to drown the whole group in lies a colossal Gold Dragon. This is, of course, Gloriatrix, the Lord of the Spire.
He speaks with the Fists, inquiring about how they got here. Their story of their encounter with the spike covered Dragon deeply concerns him and he orders his lieutenant to prepare the troops as the 'Talons of Tiamat' are on their way.
Other matters are discussed, Gloriatrix mentions that one ZENOBAAL-the Prophecy Incarnate is searching for them. This is a Silver Dragon who has been driven mad by his study of the Prophecy. Some of the Fists are interested in meeting him until its pointed out that Xenobal's interest in Dragonmarks will lead him to skin Kapek in order to better study his Dragonmark tattoo.
The Fists are also re-united with Celedrus who is delighted to see them but also seems delighted with the opportunity to learn new spells his stay at the Spire has afforded him.
Gloriatrix is concerned that the Fists continue their quest and accomplish their part in the Prophecy and so preserve the world. So he offers to transport them back to the Abyss in the morning but for the night he offers them the hospitality of the Spire.
A magnificent feast is brought and the Fists eat and drink and Mirra tells Gloriatrix the tales of their exploits. After this the Fists are escorted to the luxurious rooms set aside for them. Gloriatrix's hospitality doesn't end there as there are also comely bed mates if they wish. Ajax, Lorric and Kapek definitely wish and take advantage of their hosts generosity.

*Ajax comments
Ajax can tell by the scent of the ladies that they are not the species they appear to be but shapechanged Dragons but he's a sophisticated guy and is okay with that.

In the morning the Fists join Gloriatrix for breakfast. He thanks them for their 'contributions' of the night before. He also gives them the chance to pick one item from his hoard. All pick apart from Wil who is true to his Vow of Poverty and politely declines, instead requesting Gloraitrix gives a suitable sum to charity.
Equipped with their new items the Fists gather to be transported. They thank Gloriatrix for his hospitality and then he casts his spell. To the utter astonishment of those of the Fists who recognize the spell, he casts 'WISH' !
The Crimson Fist appear on the beach by the turbulent oceans of The Gaping Maw. In the distance, about forty or fifty miles away, they see Divided's Ire. Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and they are on their way.Soon they reach the islands. One has an active volcano on it and the other is covered in forests. Wooden walkways connect the two islands.
The Fists decide to land on the forested isle but the distortion due to the 'Shadow Walk' spell leads them to slightly miscalculate and end the spell over the ocean. However Kapek is prepared and deploys the Folding Boat and the group climb abroad. They can see the mast of a ship over the trees, rising from a small inlet.
The Fists guide the boat into shore and move stealthily towards the stone building that guards the walkway between the two islands. As they get closer they notice the building has taken considerable damage. Inside the building a crack stretches across the floor of the building. A barricade also stretches across the floor of the building, improvised from rubble and bodies. On the far wall a line of cages are suspended against it.
Wil casts 'Invisibility Sphere' on the group and they move into the building. As they get closer to the cages they can make out their occupants. Many are evil creatures but two of them hold Angels.
Wondering how the Angels are held here Mirra casts a 'Detect Magic' and realises the whole area is under the effect of a 'Forbiddance' spell, preventing Teleportation spells or Dimensional Travel.
Wil casts a 'Message' spell that includes not only the Crimson Fists but the two Angels. The first one is suspicious of the strange voices in his head but is prepared to consider they wish to help. The second refuses to believe this isn't some demonic trick and refuses to speak with them.

The Crimson Fist check the other cages to each side to make sure none of them contain Lorric's mother, which they don't. An exploration of a stone hut to one side shows it to be a empty but obviously, disgustingly so, well used torture chamber.
They then move down the lines of cages to where they end in a clear path that leads to a pair of double doors. Rather than check every cage the Fists decide to head down to the doors and then through them which will hopefully lead them to the prisoner occupied half of the island.
Half way down the corridor Lorric hears whispered words in Abyssal. He whispers them to Mirra who translates them as an order to get help, despite the 'Invisibility Sphere' they've been spotted !
Lorric follows the sound to a large room where they see two Baubau demons reporting to a Glabrezu. The Glabrezu spots Ajax and politely invites him in. After a cordial exchange of macho threats the Glabrezu invites the rest of the group in. Kapek and Lorric enter but Mirra, Wil and Celedrus remain out of sight around the corner.
Lorric demands to know where his mother is and the Glabrezu offers to divulge this information if they will rid him of a rival, S'Sharra a female Kelvezu demon. If they don't co-operate he threatens to open all the cages and release all the prisoners. Lorric is in no mood for a lengthy debate, and gives the creature a count of three to tell him what he wants to know. When the information is not forthcoming, Lorric wastes no time in charging to attack.
Ajax charges in to join Lorric and Mirra blows her horn to encourage the Fists in battle. Then the three of them are slammed into the spike covered ceiling as the Glabrezu casts 'Reverse Gravity'. He then Rages and proceeds to clobber Ajax and Lorric.
Wil casts an Empowered 'Flaywind Burst', which also incidentally kills one of the Baubau Wil hadn't even seen.
Suddenly a scream comes from the rear of the Fists and Celedrus collapses with multiple wounds in his back, so wounded not even his Contingent 'Heal' spell saves him. Wil spots a dark shape retreating back into the corridor.
Mirra moves towards the giant shape of the Glabrezu, judging it a lesser threat than the stealthy killer that just took Celedrus's life in an instant. Kapek activates his Scouts Headband and retreats in the same direction.
Ajax peels himself off the ceiling and with one furious blow finishes the Glabrezu.
Wil rushes into the corridor hoping to spot Celedrus's killer and seeing it casts 'Mummify' on it but the creature refuses to be mummified. Lorric swiftly catches up with it and strikes the creature two mighty blows. in reply she ( for Lorric can know see she is a female demon) casts 'Greater Dispel' on him removing, as she undoubtedly planned, his 'See Invisible' spell and then retreats through the cages.
Wil casts 'See Invisible' on Lorric who runs down their foe and strikes her again. She realises she cannot outrun Lorric and turns on him, unleashing a storm of blows. Not one of them lands so she quickly offers to take him to Vanthus ( his father).
Lorric solemnly agrees and then hits her again, this time only striking to stun and she goes down.
Having secured the demon's hands and locked her in one of the empty cages the Fists wake her up. She claims to know where Vanthus is but refuses to say where, pointing out that the Fists would then have no reason to keep her alive.
Without warning she begins to chant in Abysal, imploring Demogorgon for aid. Lorric strikes at her but she dodges away to the rear of the cage. Ajax Shifts and extends his arm into the cage and claws her. She collapses, dead before she hits the ground. Then her corpse turns to mist. Mirra casts 'Detect Magic' and sees a magical effect similar to a teleportation spell but before anything can be done the the mist is gone. The Fists reckon that right now S'Shara will be reforming back in Demogorgon's palace and will soon be informing him of their presence. From now on they will be working to a deadline.
They hastily proceed through the double doors onto a ledge which leads onto a stone bridge spanning the gap between the two islands. To the left is a platform with stairs leading down. On the platform wait four Nabassu demons. On the other island are four Nycaloths.
Mirra calls out to the Nycaloths in Abysal and they cautiously respond in Common. When Lorric asks about Vanthus they recognize the name and ask him to come forward and speak. (As this happens thunder and lightning sounds from the direction of Abysum. It sounds like Demogorgon is hearing the news).
The Nycoloths offer to help but want 20 thousand gold. Lorric offers them one of the magical axes they'd taken off the late Warden. The Nycoloths recognize the weapon and ask for both of the axes, which is agreed to.
The Nycoloths invite the Fists to cross the bridge under their protection. As the Fists move across the Nabassu rise into the air and the Nycaloths rise to meet them. The two sides meet in combat in mid air and the Nabassu are defeated, losing two of their number while the Nycaloths lose one.
The Fists safely pass through another set of double doors into a corridor. (The storm in the distance increases in intensity and the ground begins to shake). As the Crimson Fist move down the corridor Lorric hears voices speaking in Abysal, which Mirra translates for everybody. The voices are arguing about who gets the leg to eat and who gets the wings.
The Fists move to the room where they hear the voices coming from and slide the door open to reveal four demons arguing over the partially eaten corpse of a Trumpet Archon.
With Mirra coaching him via the 'Message' spell Lorric adresses them in Abysal. Sadly the demons have no intention of negotiating so the Fists attack.
Wil leads off by casting 'Incite Riot' on the squabbling demons and three of them succumb, temporarily turning on each other. Wispy vapour forms around Lorric and Wil burning them and trying to restrict their movement.
Lorric charges in and slays one, Ajax joins him in combat as another acid clouds lands on them. One of the creature shoots a ray at Lorric but misses.

*Ajax comments
Aware that they haven't found Vanthus yet Ajax wishes to preserve his two remaining Shifts and so fights unShifted and not Raging. He is a little shocked at just how crap is when he does this.

Ajax and Lorric ignore the restricting effects of the cloud thanks to the 'Freedom of Movement ' on them and tumble out of the cloud and engage the demons. Ajax is hit by a 'Ray of Enfeeblement'. Kapek charges in on an summoned dinosaur and joins the battle.

*Ajax comments
With the exception of anti-magic aura Ray of Enfeeblement is DEFINITELY Ajax's most hated spell.

Blows are given and received but the demons fall beneath the Crimson Fist.
The Fists have barely got their breath back when a voice booms out in Abysal demanding to know if his queen is there. Wil quickly casts 'Invisibility Sphere'. Lorric pokes his head out the door and sees a Belarion, basically a shit demon.
The voice calls out for 'S'Shara', it's 'beloved'. As the Fists just killed S'Shara they suspect the demon will not be well disposed towards them but they do feel that having seen the Belairon they probably did S'Sharra a favour by killing her.
Mirra 'Fascinates' the demon and the Fists sneak the other way but find another filth demon blocking that way. Again the voice demands its 'queen' and the Fists decide they are going to have to fight their way out.
As Lorric moves out he spots another two shit demons and a Demodand. He charges one of filth demons and hits it (to his utter disgust) and in reply it spews a shower of effluvia at him. Mirra stops 'Fascinating' her shit demon and blows her horn to encourage her comrades in battle.
Kapek pounds the demons with force boomerangs and Wil casts 'Wall of Sand' to cut one of the demons off from the combat. Ajax charges in to join Lorric and slays that demon.
As the demon trapped behind the sand wall pounds uselessly on it Lorric charges another Belarion. Wil emerges and casts an Empowered 'Flaywind Burst' on two of the filth demons and the Demodand but he is stricken by the vile aura of the shit demons. Ajax joins Lorric and slay a second demon.
The Demodand spits goo at Lorric but misses him as he does with a 'Ray of Enfeeblement'. Lorric tumbles past the shit demon and attacks the Demodan. The trapped filth demon forces its way through the sand wall.
Ajax is now facing off against two shit demons. One clobbers him and the other spews faeces at him. Ajax dodges the shit but the unfortunate Wil behind him is not so lucky. Already struck by the demon's aura Wil is severely, almost fatally, damaged. He swiftly retreats to 'Repair' himself. Kapek's boomerangs finish one of the shit demons.
The Demodan misses Lorric with another 'Ray of Enfeeblement' and then turns itself invisible. However Lorric is still under the effect of Wil's 'See Invisible' and so just presses his attack.
Mirra inspires Ajax to heroic efforts in his combat with the shit demon. The Demodand claws at Lorric and utterly misses him although the one who just clawed through the sand wall does land a blow.
Kapek finishes Ajax's demon and Ajax, freed up, charges down the Demodand and slays it.
Then to Ajax's astonishment one of the fallen filth demons flows to its feet in one smooth, if nauseating, movement and attacks him. It deals him hideous damage so only Ajax's Shifted vitality keeps him on his feet.
As the Fists are assaulted as the shit demons rise again and again, Mirra casts 'Know Opponent' and learns the creatures are vulnerable to sonic and bludgeoning damage. She hopes these forms of damage will also be ones they can't regenerate from.Kapek realises his boomerangs will work and pounds one of the downed creatures and it disintegrates. With Kapek's boomerangs, Wil's fists. Lorric's tankards and Ajax's pincer staff the Fists finally finish their tenacious opponents.

*Ajax comments
Ajax always enjoys a good fight but this, this was just too disgusting
Then the Fists make EVERY possible 'shit' pun imaginable!

The room beyond is flanked with statues of an incredibly beautiful demoness staring adoringly at a huge two-backed throne. Mirra identifies the figure represented by the statues as Shami-Amourae, the lover of Demogorgon, and guesses that the throne may be for the use of the two-headed demonic monarch himself. Otherwise, the decaying, rot-covered room is empty, and the Fist decide to explore one of the exits that lead off from behind the four statues.
Lorric is the natural choice for a stealthy reconnoitre, and he enters one of the side rooms. Chunks of sharp metal are strewn about it and it has three other exits. Lorric also notices the hunched figure of another Babau lurking in the corner, and consults his colleagues through the Message spell for advice. Ajax suggests talking to it in order to gain further information, but as soon as Kapek muses aloud about working with demons, Lorric attacks it.

Expecting a quick victory, like those against the Babau earlier, the Fist are surprised by the demon’s resilience under Lorric’s relentless attack. Both his tankards corrode away into nothing following their repeateded contact with its acid-drenched hide. Wil then moves into the room and casts a Wither spell on it.
The demon invokes magical darkness around itself and attempts to flee under its cover. Unfortunately for it, thanks to an Ebon Eyes spell Lorric is perfectly capable of seeing it and takes advantage of the error in order to trip the creature up and then deliver a brutal kick. Mirra then enters the room behind Wil, playing a stirring battle cry on her horn, followed by Ajax and Kapek. Ajax advances to the edge of the darkness, but no further, as he cannot see through it, while Kapek waits with his boomerangs for any sign of an adversary. He does not have to wait long before a Hezrou demon enters from the right hand archway. It is met immediately by a stinging hail of boomerangs, but undeterred it attacks Ajax, its wicked claws drawing blood. A second comes in behind it and moves to bite Kapek.
Lorric continues to strike at the fallen Babau, finally killing it as it struggles to its feet. Wil attempts a Charm Monster on one of the Hezrou, but his magic is resisted by the demon. Seconds later, it receives the full fury of a shifted Ajax and dies. The shifter turns his attentions to the second Hezrou and rakes it with his claws. The group are moving much more swiftly now, aided by a timely Haste spell from their bard. Kapek’s boomerangs finish off the work that Ajax has started, and the second Hezrou is slain.

Two more Hezrou move into position, one of them invoking the familiar and chilling tones of a Blasphemy spell. Another of Kapek’s mounts disappears from under him, but the group are otherwise unhindered. Lorric and Ajax both assault the next Hezrou, and kill it, while Kapek’s boomerangs slam into the other. It retaliates with a Chaos Hammer spell and despite their vigilance, both Wil and Mirra fail to counterspell it. The party, with the exception of the free-spirited Ajax, are hurt by it but not seriously. Yet more Hezrou can be seen down the corridor, and one of them casts an Unholy Blight into the room. Again this hurts the group but does not cripple anybody.

Kapek suggests that Lorric hold the corridor entrance, and the monk does so, preventing either of the two new arrivals from entering the room. Wil then casts an Incite Riot on the demons, and the two in the corridor promptly turn on each other. The Hezrou remaining inside the room at this point falls to Ajax’s claws, as Kapek unleashes a hail of boomerangs which do serious damage to the wall but nothing else. Lorric then finishes off the demon he was facing and Ajax races past him to kill the final one in the corridor.

In a race to find and kill other enemies before his power fades, the shifter then rushes into adjacent rooms. The first room he finds is nondescript, and merely leads back into the area that the group have already explored, but the second is luxuriously appointed, with cushions and fine silks and exquisite viands. He notices as he looks around him, that there is movement from beneath some cushions and calls out a challenge. Predictably there is no reply, and Ajax promptly throws aside the concealing cushions. What is revealed is not the succubus that the shifter was expecting (hoping?) to see but a wizened elderly gnome, obviously terrified. Mirra is quite pleased to see a fellow countryman and calls out to him in her native tongue. He answers, although in Common, and tells them that his name is Nert Bilgeflower. He came here on a planar vessel called the Crimson Scar, having been pressganged into its crew. Mirra has heard of this vessel, it belongs to Orcus and is capable of sailing between the Abyssal oceans as well as the Prime Material plan and the River Styx. Nert goes on to explain that he came ashore with its captain Vanthus. Naturally the group are interested in anything he can tell them about Vanthus, and he answers their queries. The Death Knight wields a flaming sword and a flaming sickle together, and wears a breastplate of tarnished mithral. He is surrounded by wraiths and shadows at all times, as well as what he refers to as “Shadows of his Master”. Mirra’s guess is that these are creatures known as Shadow Demons. She then goes on to invite the elderly gnome to join them, as they are clearly his best hope of getting out of the Abyss, and he agrees. Lorric and Ajax have meanwhile liberated all of the booze.
As Kapek and Ajax examine the ground in the spiked metal room for tracks, the building is shaken by another quake. Ajax believes this to be a symptom of Demogorgon’s approach, and says as much, while Kapek is sceptical. Nert mentions a gem that Vanthus carries, capable of activating the volcano, and Kapek assumes this to be the cause, but Nert then dismisses this explanation and agrees with Ajax’s suggestion. Nonetheless, the quake adds urgency to their mission. They decide to follow the corridor from which the Hezrou came, in the hope that Vanthus and the Crimson Scar crew have not passed that way.

Again Lorric scouts ahead. At the end of the corridor is a room, lit by a steady red glow, which the monk cautiously enters. It contains more torture cells, with no living occupants, only gruesome implements and the mangled remains of demons. The glow itself comes from a larger room beyond, a pit of lava with a narrow walkway around the edge. Suspended above the lava are six cages, three of which are occupied. One has another Trumpet Archon in it and one has a creature which Mirra is able to identify from Lorric’s description as an Ice Devil, but it is the third occupant which is of the most interest. It is a human woman, whose description matches that of Lorric’s mother, Lavinia. Lorric notices at this point that there is a Marilith in the room also, although it appears not to have noticed him. Lorric then leaves the room and returns to the others.
It occurs to Kapek that the human woman in the cage could be some sort of illusion or trick, and so Lorric asks for Wil to cast a spell of True Seeing upon him. Once this is done, Lorric can clearly see Nert Bilgeflower for what he is, a Succubus. Immediately he leaps at the demon with a cry of “Succubus!”
The others follow his lead, in particular Kapek who has been suspicious of “Nert” all along, and although the Succubus puts up a valiant fight she is clearly overmatched and swiftly dealt with. This does serve to alert the Marilith however, who erects the customary Blade Barrier along the walkway, sealing off the lava room. Lorric is still able to make out the woman through the barrier though, and with his new magically enhanced sight is able to confirm that she is as she seems. The group now have to get into the room.

The Marilith calls out in a booming voice, demanding to know who the group are and why they have killed its servants. The Crimson Fist make no reply, instead they are planning their next move, covered by the noise of Mirra’s horn. Wil first Hastes the group then dispels the barrier. Lorric races down the walkway and assaults the Marilith, discovering as he attacks her that she is a far more difficult foe that most of her kind. Ajax shifts into his great Dire Tiger form and makes his way with difficulty down the walkway after Lorric, before leaping across the lava to a wider section, the other side of the Marilith. Kapek watches the demon, boomerangs ready, for signs of spell casting and both Wil and Mirra wisely stay by the archway entrance.

Lorric strikes at her, then there is a whirlwind of steel as she uses her halberd with devastating skill against Ajax, and a variety of other weapons against Lorric. The shifter is a bloodied mess in seconds, but Lorric manages to evade the blows aimed at him. Kapek throws boomerangs at the creature, hitting with several. Ajax strikes at it now, but only manages to connect once. Mirra, seeing the dire situation, calls upon the power of her oratory to inspire the fighting men to greatness as Wil attempts to Confuse the demon. Unfortunately it resists the effect.

Again Lorric’s fists slam into the creature, and it changes its tactics. This time it uses the halberd against the monk, and its other weapons against Ajax. Lorric manages to weave around the weapon and remain unhurt, but Ajax takes a terrific pounding, only his shifter resilience keeping him in the fight. Slowly Kapek advances towards the melee, hurling boomerangs as he comes. Ajax tears brutally at the Marilith with his claws and teeth, but it is a deadly blow from Lorric that finally brings her down. He manages to pull her back from the brink as she dies, ensuring that her undoubtedly expensive gear does not go with her into fiery oblivion.

With the demon dead, the group can now get on with their task. Wil casts Knock on the cage containing what seems likely now to be Lavinia, and Lorric leaps up to rescue her. He greets her with the word “Mother” and she responds with the name she gave him, Yeshmal, surprised to see her son now a man full grown. He explains to her that he is now known as Lorric. She harbours some suspicion that there may be some sort of demonic trick going on, but she is unwilling to dismiss all hope. When the group starts arguing about whether or nor to release the Archon, she comments that he is beyond help anyway, being totally insane. Kapek simply smiles at this and comments that this should not be a problem. A brief argument follows, with some of the group arguing that the Dragonmark should be saved for battle with Vanthus and his undead menagerie, but Kapek cuts it short by using its power. A warm glow of healing energies bathe the group, closing up most of Ajax’s horrific injuries and fully restoring everyone else. More importantly though, awareness returns to the Trumpet Archon’s eyes and he beseeches the group to give him his freedom.

The Sundered Tower of Faeriax'soth

2011-11-11T12:49:00.001Z

For the next ten days the Fists work alongside the expedition digging up a long buried temple to Vulkoor. They help explore the first two levels, Wil proving his worth opening a very tricky locked trap-door on the first level.

Wir 4th Rhaan 998 Y.K.

Then its back to Stormreach to pick up Celedrus and two scrolls of Planeshift, which they've decided to have around in case of emergencies. From there they Shadowwalk to the Necromancers Tomb.

In the tomb the bodies the Fists had left behind have been stripped to the bones by the insects that infest it but nothing attempts to harm them as they make their way to the Gate.

They pass through the Gate unopposed and enter Mabar where Celedrus casts Attune Form on everybody but Kapek, who carries the item that shields an area against the effects of Mabar.

Will examines the stones that surround the gate on the Mabar side and translates the writings on them as 'the portal to the tower lies towards the great forest'. In the distance they can see a forest but in the OPPOSITE direction to the one they had gone last time.

Roughly a hundred feet from the stones they encounter an archway, standing alone on the plain. Mirra through the use of her magic sees that it resonates with Conjuration magic. Wil translates the words written on it and with his help Mirra activates the portal and the Fists leap through. They appear at the base of the floating tower.

Quickly the Crimson Fists scale the chains that connect the tower to the ground. Reaching the chunk of rock on which the tower rests Kapek grapples the edge of one of the four outlying towers and they climb up. However no sooner is the tower reached than strips of skin stir from the ground and attack. Mirra identifies them as FORSAKEN SHELLS.

The creatures attempt to wrap themselves around their victims and the Fists attack back but the creatures seem able to absorb incredible amounts of damage. Luckily protected as they are by Freedom of Movement spells the creatures tactics have little effect and they are, eventually, defeated.

The balcony they are on contains a strange apparatus of buttons and rods. A metal door leads into the tower. Wil examines the door and discovers it doesn't actually touch any part of the tower, just hovering a little in the air in the gap of the doorway.

Mirra examines the apparatus hoping she can figure out what it does. She manipulates the buttons to raise and lower some kind of power but exactly what they have no idea.

Ajax applies a crowbar to the door and it disintegrates the second it touches the door. Making Ajax very glad he hadn't gone with his first instinct of trying to kick it down !

Wil casts Clairvoyance but his magic doesn't work, neither does Mirra's when she casts Knock.

Wil decides to magically examine the door, to his suprise it has no magic aura but he suddenly notices he can't see the aura's of his comrades magical items either, although a quick check reveals they are still working. He guesses all Divination magic is being suppressed.

A close examination of the door leads Mirra to decide it is made of 'Void Stone', a vital component in making 'Spheres of Annihilation', and a substance that will disintegrate anything that touches it. This news does nothing for the groups comfort levels.

As they debate what to do next suddenly the door swings open to reveal a strange, metal creature.......

Immediately the creature releases a burst of negative energy that strikes every member of the group. Miira identifies their foe as a Shadesteel Golem. Ajax charges into teh coridor and attacks it, Lorric joins in tumbling behind the creature. As they attack acidic slime starts to pour from faces carved into the cieling. As it burns into the two members of the Crimson Fist they notice it is healing the Golem.

Those outside the corridor see the slime start to build up against a invisble barrier that blocks the doorway. Celedrus casts Disintegrate on the Forcewall blocking the doorway destroying it. Their attention quickly switches to another Shade Steel Golem as it climbs over the edge of the balcony. It breathes a blast of black fire that sets fire to the unfortunate Celedrus.

Meanwhile in the corridor Ajax Rages and knocks the Golem into immobility and then, remembering the slime is healing it, hits it again knocking its head clean off. As the Golem dies the door descends again clipping Ajax's arms which goes numb but doesn't disintegrate. The door clicks into place blocking the way out and locking him and Lorric in with the acidic slime.

Lorric leaps up and grabs a hand-hold on the roof and hauls himself up above the slime-spewing faces. Ajax tries to copy him but fails and plunges back into the slime, burning himself yet again, leaving him hovering on the edge of death..

Outside the second golem unleashes a burst of Negative energy, Kapek replies with a clutch of Force Boomerangs and Wil with a Flaywind Burst.

Celedrus tries, and fails, to put himself out. Near death he collapses but then the Contigency spell he wisely cast easrlier kicks in and casts a Heal on himself.

In the corridor Ajax is near death he grabs Lorric's hand and uses his 'Fleet Warriors Array' to cast Dimension Door on them both, transporting them out of the slime and onto the balcony.

Celedrus seeing the bone showing beneath Ajax's flesh uses a wand to cast Cure Moderate Wounds on him. As this happens Kapek and the Golem exchange black fire and boomerangs. Then Lorric sweeps in and finishes the creature.

Ajax lends his Third Eye to Kapek and Wil boosts Kapek's intelligence with a spell. With this advantages Kapek concentrates furiously on his DragonMark and manages to cast a Heal against the opposition of Mabar.

While the other Fists get their breath back Wil climbs down to the base of the tower and recovers the body of the Shade Steel Golem which had plummeted over the edge. He brings it back up and proceeds, with Mira, to dissect the body. Within it they discover a strange mechanism, Mira analyzes it and realizes it is what the Golem used to open the doors to the tower's interior and that it is powered by Negative Energy.
Celedrus theorizes that he can power it with his 'Rebuke Undead' ability. He channels a 'Rebuke undead' attempt into it and the doors slide open. Wil moves slowly down the corridor, checking for traps. He finds and disarms the trap that Lorric had tripped earlier but discovers no other traps. Every few minutes the doors try to shut again but Celedrus keeps burning 'Rebuke Undead' attempts to keep it open.
At the end of the corridor they see a cavern filled with crackling black lightning. A bridge stretches over the cavern and leads to a door into the tower.
It is decided that the black lightning is probably a Negative energy effect that their 'Death Ward' and 'Life's Grace's' spells should protect them against. Wil volunteers to test this theory and steps out into the lightning and is unharmed.
The Fists cross the bridge and open the door into the tower. Inside is revealed twelve figures dressed in robes and chanting softly, standing around a jewelled skull floating in mid-air. A stone gargoyle stands behind them, watching over all.
Wil gets off a 'Flaywind Burst' before the Acolytes can react and driving sand rips into them, knocking some flat and wounding most. Before the rest can fully recover Ajax and Lorric are among them, ripping them to shreds.
The Acolyte's arcane skills prove no match for the Crimson Fist's 'punching-in-the-face' skills and with claw, tankard and tangat the Acolytes and the gargoyle are brought down. They do get off some spells first and Ajax finds himself on the wrong end of a powerful 'Ray of Enfeeblement', much to his disgust.
The floating skull does nothing during the fight, to the Fists relief who had feared it might be a Demi-Lich. More careful examination proves it to just be a skull allthough one with ruby teeth and sapphire eyes, so Ajax smashes it and takes the jewels.
Kapek goes to throw a grappling hook up through a hole in the roof to the next floor but when he steps under the hole he finds himself rising up into the air. The other Fists quickly rush over to the space and join Kapek in floating up to the next floor.
The next floor has strange patterns carved into the floor and contains two huge statues. The Fists seeing neither a Gilded figure nor a Liche decide to simply move on to the next floor.
The next floor is a small space surrounded by walls with several doors set into them. Lorric hears faint noises coming from behind the nearest one. Wil picks the lock and the doors swing open......to reveal two Mummies who have clearly been waiting for the Fists.

The Mummies take advantage of the Fists surprise to cast Blindness and Hold Person on Wil but he resists both spells. Simultaneously a Dread Wraith steps through the wall and hits Ajax draining his vitality.

Two Shadows also step through the wall but the ever-vigilant Kapek attacks before they can do anything, slaying one and injuring the other which flees back into the wall.

One of the Mummies touches Wil and invokes foul necromantic powers against him but Wil is protected by his Deathward spell. Wil responds with a 'SandScour' spell and Celedrus adds a Fireball. Ajax tries to hit one of the Mummies but due to his 'Enfeebled' state his attack bounces off their armour.

The Dread Wraith tries to attack Lorric but he has been waiting for it and dodges the attack and hits it back. The Wraith flees into the wall.

Wil shrugs off another Hold Person and, to Ajax's relief, dispels the 'Enfeeblement' on him.

The Dread Wraith and the remaining Shadow charges out of the wall but Kapek and Ajax were waiting for them and shred them before they can do anything.

Lorric charges one of the Mummies, its friend responds with a Slay Living but Lorric resists. Kapek and Ajax join him attacking the creatures. Blows whistle back and forth and the Mummies fall.

An examination of the notes the Mummies were working on by Wil and Mirra show they were writing about the tower itself. It is apparently a huge machine for extracting or imbuing life force, a 'SOUL MACHINE'. While those two concern themselves with intellectual matters the rest of the group loot the Mummies.

The Crimson Fists float up to the next floor. There three black skinned giants are sitting playing cards at a table. A tiny figure is imprisoned in a bell jar on the table. The Crimson Fists recognize the creatures from the battle at the Necromancers tomb, they are Death Giants. Familiar as they are with such creatures they just attack them before they are noticed.

Wil summons three giant spiders which shoot webs on the enemy and Mirra intones tales of glory. Lorric and Ajax charge in, supported by Kapek's boomerangs, and although they take mighty blows, give better than they receive and quickly kill the Death Giants.

Urged on by Ajax, who wants to continue while his final Shift lasts, the Fists hurry on to what they reckon must be the topmost level.

The room contains a huge iron statue from which spurts strange energies. A book floats in front of the statue's face. A table is also there with several books upon it.

A whirlwind of blades suddenly appears and explodes driving blades into every corner of the room doing hideous damage to everyone. The blade creature reforms and Lorric charges the creature and slams it with his tankard, Kapek pounds it with boomerangs and Ajax slashes it with his claws. It disintegrates under their attacks.

Kapek's senses, honed by his years as a hunter, tell him something is in the shaft heading down to the lower floor. He unleashes a trio of boomerangs and one impacts with an invisible figure. Kapek feels something trying to force its way into his mind but with a supreme effort of will he expels it.

Lorric leaps on the invisible creature and attacks and Ajax joins in, striking where Lorric does. They feel glass shatter under their blows and a smashed brain suddenly appears and plummets to the floor below in a shower of glass and strange fluids. The energy fades from the statue.

*Ajax comments
Thus confirming Ajax's philisophy of life : 'Brawn will always beat brain'.

An examination of the statue shows it to be made of iron but with no magic. The books are on many subjects but nothing to do with the Tower or its owner.

On descending to the lower floor they examine the figure in the bell jar which Kapek reckons to be an Eladrin. However it doesn't respond to their words or even register on a Detect Thoughts spell,which does work as Divination magic has started working since the death of the brain creature.

The Fists decide to retrace their steps, heading down to the floors previously visited and exploring them more thoroughly. This floor and the Library however reveal nothing new.

The floor after that is the one with the metal statues and the strange marks carved into the floor. Despite Ajax's warnings that they should just leave Kapek insists on experimenting with the statues.Eventually one of them is pushed around the room (using the marks carved in the floor as tracks) until it rests next to the other statue. Then they both come to life.

One of the statues breathes a Cone of Fire on the Fists, the other attacks Lorric. The Fists pile in. The other statue gets off a painful Cone of Cold but they are battered into uselessness.

After a while further examining the room the Fists notice the statues are starting to regenerate and decide to leave.

On the floor where they first entered the tower the Fists mount a intensive search. Wil decides that the far wall is illusory and as he concentrates on it, it dissolves away to reveal a corridor that leads to glass double doors with a crystal eye set into it, it looks down on them, blinking occasionally..

Ajax wishes to stop there and rest before the group continues. He cannot Shift or Rage again today (if Mabar HAS days), Kapek cannot cast Heal and Celedrus is running low on offensive spells. Perhaps most importantly the Deathwards and Life's Grace spells that had protected the Fists have run out.The others are unsure what they should do next.

After some debate the Fists decide to rest until dawn. In order to do so safely it is decided to leave Mabar and rest in the real world. The Fists Dimension Door past the black lightning, climb down the cables and teleport back to the gateway and out of Mabar.

It is 5 in the evening when they re-enter the jungle and set up camp for the night.

In the morning the Fists breakfast on a Heroes Feast and re-enter Mabar, renewed and ready for battle. In a short while they find themselves back in the tower, in the room where they had defeated the Acolytes and the Gargoyle. It seems empty until the group's blood is chilled by a soul-numbing scream.

A creature sweeps out of the ceiling and another, still shrieking, pokes its head through the solid ceiling. They are Deathshriekers.

One of them strikes Ajax, draining his charisma. Lorric hits it in return and Kapek lashes the screaming head with Force boomerangs. It swoops down and tries to strike Kapek in return but misses.

Furious Ajax slays the Deathshriek which attacked him and Kapek finishes of the second one.

Wil examines the double doors while the crystal eye watches him impassively, blinking occasionally. He discovers the door is magically trapped, a casting of 'Detect Magic' reveals the trap is related to the spell Black Blade of Disaster ! This news does nothing to reassure the Crimson Fists.

Aided by Mirra Wil disarms the trap and pushes the doors open. It swings opens to reveal a staircase spiralling down into the darkness. The Fists descend into the depths. After a turn of the stairs they reach a landing where a room is fenced off by an iron grill. Inside the room lies two coffins and a raggedly dressed human standing guard over them with a rusty broadsword. He has numerous puncture marks all over him.

When spoken to he yells wildly and rushes to the attack, trying desperately to hit the Fists through the bars of the grill. Ignoring his useless attacks Mirra decides he is under the effect of a 'Dominate' and uses her 'Song of Freedom' on the unfortunate. The spell works, the poor man is freed from the spell and returns to his senses.

Now himself again he introduces himself to the Fists as AERISTUS HAMMEL (Mirra recognised the name as a renowned adventurer). He and his group entered the tower to try to free a noted hero but fell to the occupants of the tower. He doesn't know the fate of his comrades but has been kept as a food source for two female vampires who sleep in the coffins.

Ajax sniffs the coffins to learn the scent of the vampires and then smashes them to deny them to the vampires.

*Ajax comments

This is Lorric's idea and to help track an enemy so there is absolutely NOTHING weird or freaky about him sniffing where two female vampires have been sleeping.
They do smell nice though.

Aeristus agrees to accompany the group and they provide him with what magic gear they can spare.

Joined by their new ally the group descend the next spiral of the stairs, suddenly coming face-to-face with a Nalfeshnee, crammed into the corridor.

Celedrus casts 'Align Weapons' as Wil feels his intelligence start to fade but with an effort of will throws off the effects of the spell. Ajax charges in and attacks the Nalfeshnee, noticing as he does so a Marilith standing behind it. Behind the Marilith the corridor ends in a stone wall, besides it is a doorway into a room.

Ajax pounds the hell out of the Nalfeshnee and then Kapek finishes it with a boomerang but the other two he had thrown pass straight throw the Marillith. Kapek realizes it is an illusion. A 'Blade Barrier' appears cutting Ajax off from the rest of the group. Lorric dives through the barrier avoiding the blades with amazing speed and attacks the Marilith, realizing as his blows pass through it that it is an illusion.

Ajax moves up to the doorway and glances through taking in the weird contents of the room. There are eight pods set in the walls of the room and fed by eight glass tanks. In three of the tanks float figures in the fluid that fills the tanks. Two tables also occupy the room, on one invisible hands assemble a patchwork man from bits of bodies.

In the middle of the room stands a throne upon which sits the Lich. He is flanked by a Marilith and a huge Fire Elemental. Above the Lich hovering near the ceiling is a man who skin seems to be made of gold. The Gilded Man !

Using the 'Message' spell on him Ajax informs the others of what he can see. Mirra casts 'Dimension Door' to transport the Fists on the wrong side of the 'Blade Barrier' into the room. They disappear but don't re-appear !

The Marilith casts 'Blade Barrier' across the doorway. Ajax grits his teeth and charges straight through the Blade Barrier but the Liche was waiting for him and a ray shoots from his fingers and strikes Ajax. An anti-magic ray. In a instant Ajax is stripped of his 'Bull's Strength', 'Heroes Feast', 'Barkskin', 'Align Weapon', 'Death Ward' and 'Attune Form'. Much worse he loses his Shifted form and any ability to Shift until the spell wears off.

*Ajax comments
Once again Ajax realizes exactly how rubbish he is inside an anti-magic effect. Not only is his fighting potential destroyed but without his Fast Healing, Beastskin hide and extra vitality he is easier to kill.

Ajax switches targets and attacks the Marilith with his Pincer Staff and Lorric tumbles in and attacks the Lich. Unfortunately powered only by his Rage Ajax is a shadow of his previous self and his attack doesn't really bother the Marilith, her attack however slashes into Ajax with deadly force.

The Lich produces a scroll and casts it and disappears to re-appear on the other side of the room. There he gestures at Lorric, Lorric sees a space full of twisting black walls appear before him. It feels it try to suck him in but he resists and the maze vanishes.

Ajax tumbles desperately away from the Marilith towards the Lich, Lorric joins him but as they attack they realize it is another illusion.

The rest of the Crimson Fists finally appear. Kapek spots the distortion that tells him where the invisible Liche is hiding and pelts it with Force boomerangs, following his aim Wil blankets the area with a 'Flaywind Burst' and Celedrus adds an 'Acid Rain'. The Liche retreats behind the Blade Barrier and spits a line of fire that catches Celedrus and Wil.

Lorric leaps through the 'Blade Barrier' to take the fight to the Liche once more. The Marilith, rather unimaginatively, casts a 'Blade Barrier' that cuts through the rest of the Fists. The whirling blades nearly kills Celedrus, only the vitality granted him by the 'Heroes Feast' keeps him alive. Kapek opens up on the Liche with force boomerangs finishing it. Immediately the Fire Elemental goes out of control.

Wil casts 'Control Monster' on the Fire Elemental and succeeds in gaining control of it and he immediately turns it on the Marilith. The Marilith however disposes of it in one blur of attacks.

Lorric picks up the Liches body and to make absolutely sure of it pushes it feet first into the 'Blade Barrier'. Mirra casts 'Greater Dispel' and dispels the 'Blade Barrier' trapping her and the rest of the group. Now able to see the Marilith it comes under a hail of attacks as Kapek hits it with his boomerangs, Wil with a 'Flaywind Burst' and Celedrus with a 'Magic Missile'.

Enraged the Marilith charges Kapek and so Lorric and Ajax seize the opportunity to jump on it. Lorric smashes it with his tankard and Ajax snaps his Pincer Staff shut around its neck and grapples it and pins it down. Kapek steps up and slays it with a cold iron Tangat. The last of the tower's defenders had fallen.

Ajax smashes open one of the tanks. He discovers the fluid it contains has a paralyzing property that Ajax just manages to resist. The figure it contains is dead, as are the other two figures in the other tanks.

As the rest of the Fists loot the Liche Mirra examines the Gilded Man and discovers he is surrounded by a 'Temporal Stasis' spell. Mirra casts a 'Greater Dispel' and the Gilded Man is free !

He is strangely unsurprised, having apparently been expecting just this from his reading of the Prophecies. He calmly informs the group that the Expedition are all dead as are all of Celedrus's tribe.

The Fists have many questions and the Gilded Man answers them. They discover that Lorric's mother has information vital to dealing with the threat to all existence. The Gilded Man also informs them that the tower can be destroyed by setting all the machines that surround the tower to full power. He also confirms that Martell was part of the group that arranged their kidnapping where they had first met.

The Gilded Man refuses to accompany them on their mission to the Abyss declaring that there are two tasks that must be accomplished and it will take whichever the Fists don't. As they are going to the Abyss it will travel to the Utter Cold to find the angel Zaphikel. He does however offer to transport them, once, to any destination they choose. The Fists discuss the matter and decide to head back to Sharn to equip themselves properly for an assault on the Abyss.

First though the Fists set the machines to their highest settings, they expect to find the Vampires but although Ajax gets a whiff of their scent there is no sign of them. With the tower set for destruction the Gilded man 'Planeshifts' the Fists back to Sharn. Then vanishes off on his own mission.

Hammel thanks the Fists for his rescue and tries to return the magical gear they had loaned him but they insist he keeps it. He asks where he can find them in future but his attitude takes a distinct turn when they inform him that they can be located at the 'Deathsgate Guild'. Hammel is a member of the rival 'Clifftop Guild' but more than that he claims there is something deeply evil about the operations of the 'Deathsgate Guild' although he refuses to provide specific examples. He earnestly warns them of continuing their association with the Guild. Then he heads off to reclaim his life.

The Fists head back to their home where they find Anvil and are happily re-united with their old comrade. They also divvy up the loot from the Necromancers Tower and begin, often with Anvil's help, to turn it into items that will help in their next mission.

Over the next few days two noteworthy incidents occur. Mirra discovers that when an Anti-Magic Field is cast on the Eladrin in a bottle he transforms into a fully grown, living Eladrin. Although he immediately reverts to stone when outside the Anti-magic field. Mirra eventually figures out that a 'Break Enchantment' will free him of this curse and he is freed.

It turns out he was in the tower to rescue the Gilded Man and is pleased to hear that the Fists have succeded in releasing him. He has come from Thelanis where Palimino is locked in combat with the forces of Mabarian. He is also able to tell the Fists that the child is still alive.

*Ajax comments

Ajax also takes the time to hire a Cleric to perform 'Sendings' for him. He contacts Yulunga to enquire about the Black Claws. He learns they are doing well but are preparing for battle as the fighting in the Eldrin reaches is getting closer.
The other is to Clian who he is relieved to learn is alive and prospering and missing him.

They also receive a visit from Martell D'Cannith. Lorric responds to his arrival by belting him one for his involvement in their kidnapping which Martell glumly accepts as just. They discuss their past involvement.

*Ajax comments
Ajax doesn't hit Martell because he fears if he starts he won't stop.

Original adventure, 'Prisoner of the Castle Perilous' by Stephen S. Greer.

Stormreach and the Red Ring

2011-10-28T02:29:00.019+01:00

With the decision made the Crimson Fists Shadow Walk to Stormreach where Lorric sets to converting the various loot they've collected into cash. With the swift talking Lorric at work the Fists are soon supplied with more coin then they've ever seen before.

On the next day Oz is bid a fond farewell by his comrades with 33,000 thousand gold in his pack and a near death dealing hangover from the previous nights celebration.

With so much gold burning a hole in their pockets the Fists decide to spend a few days relaxing in Stormreach and purchasing items that will help them with their extra-planar quests. Celedrus requests some gold to tide him over and is gifted with 6,000 although after he tries to buy a glass of wine with a 100 gold pieces it has to be explained to him how much that can buy in this new world.

They also bump into their old friend Galin, who on being quizzed about adventurers who might be prepared to join the company tells them of a Warforged called WIL who is looking for work and can be found at the 'Ship's Cat'. According to Galin Will was part of an expedition into the Menechtarun desert. When he lost contact with the expedition he fell into a passive state only recovering when he was uncovered by another expedition whom he accompanied back to Stormreach.

The Fists decide to talk to Wil. He turns out to be a cheery fellow with a laugh that could be counted as a Sonic weapon. Skilled in trap finding and magic and with the endurance native to his kind he seems just what they need. For his part Wil cares little for money, tending to give away his share of any loot. Of more concern to him is that the quests he go on are for the cause of good and are interesting. He deems the Fist's plans worthy of his attention and agrees to join up.

With a few days to relax the Fists set about their individual errands.

Ajax seeks out Kolos the minotaur to arrange a gladiatorial battle for him and one is arranged for a few days hence in the Far games. It is only after this that Ajax hears the rumour that the reason the Crimson Fists left Stormreach was that they had fled in fear of Malketh. It does occur to him that entering the games that Malekith controls could be considered a giant 'up yours' to him but, as with most things, this occurs to him too late.

Kapek visits the House Jorasco enclave to declare his new found status as one of the Dragonmarked. They eagerly question, examine and catalogue him.

Mirra and Wil research into Pazunia and Mabar at the Temple of the Sovereign Host. There they learn of the Blood War between the Demons and Devils and how Pazunia is the main battleground for this conflict. They also learn of a hub of trade there called 'Broken Reach'

Mirra also delivers the stories she has been writing to the local office of her paper. She picks up the latest news herself hearing tales of half-demon pirates, conflict between the Sahuagin possibly linked to undersea earthquakes, the incidences of the dead rising again and the re-birth of the 13th Dragonmark.

Lorric as well as consuming heroic amounts of alcohol visits the Church of the Silver Flame to inquire of the 'Gilded Man'. From them he learns that the 'Gilded Man' is not human but probably an Inevitable, a being of pure Law dedicated to maintaining the balance. He was captured by Feriax'soth several centuries ago.

Lorric is warned that the 'Gilded Man' will hate those who have died and returned, regarding them as an offence to the natural cycle of things. A description that applies to two of his party both Ajax and Celedrus having died and returned.

Also all the group invest in new magic items. Kapek and Ajax pay to have some their items improved, this involves handing them over for this process to be done. Ajax hands over his Beast Claws, a decision he will soon come to regret.

Far, 20th Barrakas 998 Y.K.

On Far morning the Fists receive a letter, it contains First Class tickets to the games where the final event will be a battle between Malixendria the Champion and Ajax, accompanying it is an note inviting them to 'The Death of Ajax of the Crimson Fists'. It is signed, naturally, by Malketh.

That evening the other Fists use the tickets and are soon seated next to Malketh himself. He is accompanied by a robed figure that they instantly recognize from the encounter when Malketh's forces attacked the Fists outside Stormreach. The spell-caster who cast the Teleportation Circle that brought Malketh's people there, which made him a formidable spell-caster indeed. However as they are introduced he leans forward and for a second his features shift becoming a woman, her features pulled tight by chains sunk into her flesh. It is Saeloth the Sorceress who the Fists freed from the Yellowtooth goblins, who attacked the village of Gullsnest and who recommended them for membership in the Deathgate guild. Malketh seems to have not noticed his companion's brief change and invites Lorric to sit next to him while the Fists wonder what game Saeloth is playing.

Malketh is, of course, here to bargain. He offers Lorric that when Ajax loses he won't call for his death if Ajax will serve as his slave for six months. Lorric feels he cannot make the decision for Ajax so makes a counter-offer. If Ajax wins Malketh will tell him where he can find his mother. If Malexendria wins Lorric will fight her in the arena. Malketh agrees with one proviso, the fight about to happen must end in the death of one of the combatants.

Down on the sands of the arena the two opponents walk out to the cheers of the crowd. It is clear that Malexendria is by far the favourite, despite Mirra's best efforts to get everyone to cheer for Ajax.

The Announcer introduces Malexendria and then declares Ajax is there to 'defend the honour of the Crimson Fists after they fled the city'. His opinion on this subject are interrupted as a remarkably well aimed tomato thrown by Kapek impacts with his chest.

The formalities over the fight begins. Ajax is without his Beast Claws as they are still being improved and so charges straight in with his Pincer Staff, delivering a flurry of blows that all miss his nimble opponent. Malexendria tumbles past him and with blinding speed and deadly accuracy backstabs him in the heart and kidneys. To her astonishment this seems to merely annoy the Shifter.

When another blizzard of attacks also all miss Ajax simply throws away the Pincer Staff and uses his natural claws, finally managing to land a hit. To both his and the crowds relief as so far this was proving a very one-sided competition. Although this is still one blow in return for the three more telling blows she lands.

Realizing he is losing badly Ajax decides its time for an all-or-nothing move. He backs off from his opponent, putting the breadth of the arena between them. Malexendria takes the opportunity to spread her wings and fly into the air and invoke a Horrid Wilting on Ajax. Now only alive thanks to the vitality granted him by his Shifted Form Ajax transforms into his Primeval Dire Tiger form (losing all his magical gear) and charges straight at the astonished Malexendria. With one mighty leap he collides with her and unleashes a series of terrible blows.

They hit the ground and a glow surrounds Malexendria as some item she possesses casts a Heal on her. She desperately strikes back but it isn't enough, Ajax's jaws clamp down on her and with fang and claw he tears into her.

Malexendria goes limp and Ajax rolls off her. He hopes she might still be saved but the intestines leaking from her indicate that she is dead. Ajax quickly transforms back into his humanoid form and exhausts his Healing Belt to heal himself enough that he won't just die when his Shifting wears off.

The crowd goes wild as Ajax is declared the winner. Lorric turns to speak to Malketh but he is already stalking to the exit, furious at the loss of his Champion.

Ajax rejoins his comrades and immediately offers his apologies to Lorric for the death of his half-sister. Lorric kindly forgives him. Unable to resist anymore Ajax heads out to bask in the adulation of his new fans. The other Fists decide that once again its time to leave Stormreach in a hurry.

Having done a lap of honour Ajax returns to his comrades with a huge grin on his face. Just then a boy approaches Lorric informing him that Malketh would like to speak to him and his friends.

The Fists are escorted to Malketh's inner chambers. Malketh receives them, offers them food and wine and, grudgingly, congratulates Ajax on his victory. Malketh quickly gets down to business and informs Lorric of his parents. His father was called VANTHUS and his mother LAVINIA. A pair of noted adventurers who had left Lorric with a friend who, in Malketh's carefully chosen words, 'they thought they could trust' before heading into the jungle.

They were said to have found ruins that served as a prison for a crazed mind called Dynroth. It was here the rest of their group had lost contact with them. When next they were heard of they were being help prisoner in Pazunia. Apparently Lavinia knew something of value to DEMOGORGON for she was moved to his realm,'THE GAPING MAW'. There she is said to held in a prison but a prison where the prisoners control half of it and the guards the other half.

Malketh also informs Lorric that his mother is an aasimar. Malketh makes gloating reference to the fact that in the Abyss 'her flesh is the sweetest.' Having gotten his petty revenge Malketh dismisses the group.

The second they step outside they are mobbed by fight fans who spot the new champion. Ajax leads his new fans off to the nearest pub and gives the group breathing room. The rest of the group head off to find a bard to quiz about Lorric's parents.

*Ajax comments
It is a horrible thing for Ajax to head off to the pub with a crowd of admiring fans who want to buy him all the drinks he can manage but that is a sacrifice he's prepared to make to free his comrades to persue their mission.

A search produces a bard who remembers them and even recognizes Lorric and informs him of his real name, Yeshmal. He tells some stories of Lavinia and Vanthus and informs Lorric of where his parents used to live.

Lorric mulls the information over a few dozen pints and decides he needs to purchase a scroll of Discern Location to locate his parents when the Fists are in Pazunia. However to make it work he will need some objects closely connected to them.

The night passes.

Sar 21st Barrakas 998 Y.K.

The next morning a tired Ajax rolls up to the 'Sea Cat' to meet up with the rest of the Fists. He requests a Remove Disease from Celedrus and is refused on the grounds Celedrus feels his god's gifts shouldn't be squandered on protecting Ajax from the consequences of his own over indulgence.

*Ajax comments
Ajax having discovered the concept of 'groupies' the night before.

With everyone together they head to the address given them by the bard. As they approach the house old memories stir in Lorric's mind and memories long buried return to him.

The current owners of the house, Mark and Larissa Zemore, are more than a little surprised to be woken by such a strange group (including the new Champion) first thing in the morning but kindly invite them in for tea. Over the tea Lorric explains his need for something connected to his parents to enable him to find them. Mark mentions that when they first moved in twenty years ago he discovered a locket which his wife wears to this day. However it has great sentimental value to them as a reminder of the house that has been their home for twenty years. Lorric promises to return it if he can and offers them 500 GP.

Larissa obviously doesn't want to part with it but Mark realizes it can reunite Lorric with his parents and, with some sadness, hands it over. Lorric thanks them and reiterates his promise to return it. Ajax touched by the couples generosity to strangers presses one of the diamonds he keeps for emergencies into Mark's hand and suggest he uses it to create another piece for his wife.

The Fists then head to the bank in the hopes of being able to access the account of Lorric's parents. The manager is naturally reluctant to allow this but is persuaded to part with something of no real worth from their deposit box. The box is bought before Lorric and with a rush of fond childhood memories he instantly recognizes a pair of wooden swords his father and he used to play with. He takes the one his father used to use.

All that is left to do then is to purchase two scrolls of Discern Location.

With their business in Stormreach concluded the Fists are ready to return to the expedition. Celedrus decides not to return to the territory of the Drow and will wait for their return in Stormreach.

The Atropal Lachryma

2011-10-14T01:28:00.013+01:00

As the creatures come closer the true horror of their visages becomes clear and strikes to the heart of Kapek, Mirra and Celedrus, robbing them of the their strength,speed and vitality. Mirra is so badly affected she is paralyzed by the mere sight of the Banshees.

But this is nothing compared to the horror of what happens next. The Banshees howl and Mirra simply dies. Her noble heart stilled in an instant by the horror of that sound. Fuelled by burning anger Ajax and Lorric hurls themselves at a Banshee each as Oz sends an anti-undead arrow winging into one of the foul creatures.

Kapek rushes forward and unleashes the power of his Dragonmark but the power is halved by the evil atmosphere of Mabar that surrounds them.

As horrific as the Banshees are at attacking from range, up close they are less formidable. Lorric's Banshee tries to flee but is tripped by him and quickly finished. Ajax's sinks into the ground and so evades the enraged Shifter who, in the grip of his fury, charges the trees as the only targets in sight.

The second Banshee leaps from the ground into the middle of the group and is pounded by missile fire by Kapek and Oz but they fail to kill it before it can scream again and in that terrible instant Oz's life is ripped from him. The next second Lorric finishes the creature as Ajax reduces the trees to fragments.

The remaining members of the group are in shock. In the span of a few awful seconds the Fists have lost two members. Celedrus assures the rest he can return their comrades on the morrow if they are all still alive by then. In a daze they decide to remove themselves from the Mabar affected area until their numbers are renewed and the damage done by the Banshees healed.

The Crimson Fists retreat out of the area and set up camp. Over the next few days Celedrus's Raise Dead spells return their lost comrades and other spells restore the speed, strength and vitality lost by them (and him and Kapek) to the Banshees. They also have Celedrus communicate via Sending with the expedition leader to assure him they aren't dead and are working on securing a deal with the Drow.

On the fourth day they start the day with a Heroes Feast to prepare themselves for the horrors ahead and return to the area via Mirra's 'Shadow Walk', which leaves Oz, Mirra and Kapek teetering precariously at the edge of a 100 foot drop. The drop leads down to the dry bed of the lake, there they see Obelisks and statues and a square pit. Celedrus identifies one of the statues as being of IXTCHAMEL'TRAA, a vast centipede-like creature coiled around an Obelisk, the other , a hulking form without a head, is a being that is known as an aspect of ATROPOS.

A groove has been carved into the lake bed, none of the Fists are really in doubt that this was caused by the fall of the comet from the skies. Most strange is that throughout the lake patches of algae float on the air, as if supported by the water that had vanished long ago.

Then the moon appears from behind the clouds, as moonlight strikes the lake bed swarms of ghosts become visible, flowing like shoals of fish through the lake. The Fists grab for weapons only to relax in astonishment as the moon slides behind the clouds and the undead vanish.

The Fists are understandably dubious that the missing Drow could be alive in this lake of horrors but it is suggested that Celedrus use a 'Sending' to a friend among the missing. To everyone's surprise he receives the message 'We are in the lake'.

Two flying creatures start to move towards the Fists, gathering shoals of undead to them. As they get closer the Fists open fire with a barrage of arrows, force boomerangs, Magic Missiles and Fireballs.

As the creatures get close the Fists see there are three Atropal Scions and two Dark Angels and they do not seemed to be particulalrly bothered by the firepower being thrown at them.

Oz and Celedrus cautiously retreat and Mirra casts Major Image so an angel bearing a flaming sword (and looking strangely familiar to Mirra's comrades) appears beside the front-line of Lorric and Ajax.

Celedrus casts Fly on Lorric and Ajax and Mirra intones tales of glory as the creatures close in and then the Psions vanish !

The Dark Angels swoop in, one viciously attacking the Fists angelic 'ally'. They are in return charged as Lorric and Ajax charge one each.

A wave of despair wash over the Fists, sapping their will to fight as the Atropal Scions invoke their aura's of despair and Negative energy. Mirra realizing the first Dark Angel has tumbled to the truth of its adversary moves her illusion to attack the other one but its comrades barks a warning that it is an illusion.

Locked in combat with one of the Dark Angels, Ajax endures a barrage of claw and wing attacks and feels his skin start to rot off his body. But joined by Lorric Ajax is able to slay his opponent. Together they turn on the second Dark Angel and swiftly slay it.

Kapek once more invokes his Dragonmark, healing his comrades and smiting the invisible Atropal Scions, they appear high above the Fists squawking in pain. One unleashes a Cone of Cold on Ajax and the other two try to drain his and Lorric's life-force but are resisted. In return the duo, making full and gleeful use of their Fly spells, dive upwards towards their foes and slay one each.

The last Atrophal Scion flees into the lake but Ajax's blood is up and he is not going to let a foe escape. He sweeps down into the lake and with a swipe of his claws sends the last Atropal Scion tumbling, broken, to the lake bed. Ajax grins in satisfaction but the grin vanishes as he suddenly realises he is inside the lake and the moon floods the scene once again with moonlight..........

Ajax freezes with horror as the undead merge into one gigantic cloud from which a huge hand made up of dozens of squirming ghosts reaches out for him. A chorus of unearthly screams and wails assault the ears of the Crimson Fist as the hand strikes at Ajax who, quite understandably, flees as fast as the Fly spell will take him.
Kapek urgently warns his comrades that two invisible Atropal Scions are flying alongside the massive composite creature which Celedrus identifies as a creature called a LOST SOUL.
The Lost Soul charges and Lorric counter-charges it with them both meeting in a head-on collision on the edge of the lake. Ajax joins him a moment later. Lorric notices while his blows don't seem to pack their proper punch Ajax's claws do and quickly switches to using his Claw Gloves.
The Atropal Scions target Lorric and Ajax with Dispel Magic removing the Fly from Lorric and the Heroes Feast from Ajax but losing the protection of their invisibility by this overt move. They also invoke their Negative aura's sapping Ajax and Lorric's will to fight. Meanwhile Kapek and Oz target the Scions with withering missile fire.
The Lost Soul disintegrates under the blizzard of attacks rained down on it. Ajax charges down and slays one of the Scions and the other one flees under a hail of missile fire before Ajax runs it down and finishes it off.
This does, of course, leave him in the middle of the lake again ! And the remaining ghosts start to coalesce into another Lost Soul. However before it can attack the reckless Shifter the moon vanishes behind the clouds and it disappears.
The group gather on the ledge to discuss the matter and heal up. It is estimated judging by how many ghosts remain that only two more Lost Souls can be formed before there are no more ghosts left. It is suggested Ajax act as bait and draw the Lost Souls to the group so they can be disposed of and he readily agrees. A rope is tied around him and Ajax flies once more into the lake.
This time two of the composite creatures form, one on either side of Ajax. They start to move towards him and Ajax watches them carefully ready to flee when he judges they're close enough. Then the moon is covered and they vanish leaving a very nervous Ajax with no idea where they are.
Kapek uses his 'Scouts Headband' and is able to see one of the Lost Souls closing in on Ajax and the other moving in on the rest of the group.
Kapek sends glowing force boomerangs winging into the seemingly empty air, the whereabouts of the nearer Lost Soul becoming obvious as the boomerangs impact with it, while Lorric reels Ajax in.
The Lost Souls continue their approach, Mirra recites tales of glory and Ajax invokes his primeval nature and transforms into a Dire Tiger.
Then at the last moment the moon comes out and the Lost Souls are revealed practically on top of the Fists, screaming their mind-shredding cries. Luckily the Heroes Feast has rendered the Fists immune to fear that day (apart from Ajax who gets by on sheer bloody-mindedness).
Lorric, Kapek and Ajax leap into melee with one of the Lost Souls. As they strike at the creatures ghostly hands burst from every inch of it to strike at them.
The other creature charges Mirra and strikes her forcing her to Tumble away from it.
The Fists in combat with the Lost Soul tear into it slaying it then quickly turn their attention on the other and deal with it in a similar fashion.
With the lake now emptied of ghosts Ajax flies into it once again on a scouting mission. He flies over the structures they had observed on the lake bed. The pit is sixty feet deep and at the bottom of it is a pedestal on which rests a giant lump of glistening black stone.
Ajax also spots a raised stone slab surrounded by obelisks. In the corners of the slab burn dim purple flames, they surround a magical circle carved into the stone.
Having returned and reported this it is decided that Ajax will fly over the area again, this time carrying Celedrus so he can give his expert opinion on what lies down there. Celedrus is a little reluctant as to this plan but is gently remained he is under the Fists command.
Ajax and Celedrus set off, this time flying lower so Celedrus can get a good look at the details. At this height it becomes obvious the statue of Atrophos is oozing black ichor and as they pass over the pit they can feel the palpable evil emanating from it.
Celedrus observes the circle carefully and theorizes that it is some sort of teleportation circle or portal. He makes out three words carved into it, 'ATROPOS', KIRX'KATECH' and 'SHOTHRAGOT' which he believes to be destinations.
The subsequent discussion touches on the fact that these seem very unhealthy places to be travelling to. The course of the discussion triggers a memory in Lorric, he remembers the Sending Sparky received from his sister which mentioned his mother was held in Pazunia. It is pointed out that one of the portals in the Necromancers Tomb leads to Pazunia, one of the upper circles of the Abyss.
Lorric wants immediately to return to the tomb and enter Pazunia to rescue his mother. The rest of the group are sympathetic but feel just charging in will get no-one rescued and probably them dead. Kapek having gained little from the Drow particularly wants the chance to turn some of their wealth into useful magic items. Also Kapek and Ajax feel they are honour bound to fulfill their contract with the expedition first. Lorric is reluctantly persuaded to not invade the Abyss just yet.
It is decided that Celedrus will cast a Flame Strike on the rock in the pit, which is undoubtedly one of the Atrophal Lachyrmae, in the hope of destroying it. The flame roars from the skies and strikes into the pit with immediate effect. The earth shakes and the moon seems to form a screaming mouth, an appalling scream rips across the landscape flattening the Fists and permanently deafening everybody.
Kapek uses his Dragonmark to cast Heal restoring everybodys hearing and healing them up.
Lorric and Kapek notice several objects detach themselves from the surface of the moon and start to fall towards the earth. As this happens strange skeletal creatures which are recognized as Mohrg start to emerge from caves in the edge of the lake along with what appears to be a Lich.
From the mud on the lake bed more undead pull themselves up, although these are fully fleshed but with glowing red eyes and fangs. They are accompanied by some form of gigantic undead lizard. With fear and awe in his voice Celedrus identifies the creature as the 'HULLATHOIN'. Mirra remembers tales that say how the insects that swarm around it turns every living thing near it into undead.
Lorric notices the vampires accompanying it are Drow. He passes Celedrus a spy-glass and Celedrus confirms what they all suspected, those are the missing Drow, now Vampires. It is vaguely considered that they should put the Drow out of their misery but no-one really wants to attack thirty Mohrg, a Lich, twenty vampires and the Hullathoin
The Fists quickly decide to leave and report what they've found to the Drow Matron. Mirra casts Shadow Walk and they hastily depart.
They soon make their way to the Drow territory. Celedrus opts to wait in the jungle in case he is executed on his return and Lorric waits with him to mess with the Drow and make them paranoid about him sneaking in again.

*Lorric comments
Lorric remains with Celedrus as much to make sure the Drow don't mess with him or execute him as much as anything else, but does not draw undue attention to this, as he figures Celedrus' confidence has probably taken enough of a battering already.

The rest of the Crimson Fist march boldly towards the Drow caves and are soon intercepted by a patrol who escort them to the Drow Matron.
In the presence of the Matron and her court the Fists tell their story and reveal the fate of the missing Drow. The Matron listens quietly and then has her High Sorcerer cast some form of truth identifying spell and has them repeat it. Having heard everything she passes her judgement. The Drow will allow the Expedition to study the ruins albeit under constant Drow supervision. Celedrus will be allowed to return home after he has spent ten years and a day in exile. She then curtly dismiss the Fists who exit glad things went so smoothly for once.
They return and pass on the news to Celedrus who receives it with no great joy but resignation and the acceptance it could have been worse. He asks if he can accompany the Crimson Fist and is gladly accepted as a capable, if fragile, spell caster is a useful addition to their ranks. Ajax lends him his Amulet of Constitution to raise his survival chances.
The matter with the Drow settled the group return to the Expedition to inform them of the deal they have secured with the Drow. The news is received with some thanks but unfortunately due to the time it took the group to join up with the expedition and then to find the missing Drow there is practically no time left in the expeditions schedule. Also during this time the problem of the cloud over Sharn has apparently been solved. A group of adventurers lead by their old comrade Anvil have solved the problem and freed Sharn of its curse.
Therefore Professor Melurit has contacted the expeditions backers and arranged for a two week extension to the time it will spend in Xendrik to gather what knowledge it can from the ruins. He offers to hire the Crimson Fist for this period as well.
The Crimson Fist request some time to decide and take themselves off to a quiet spot to discuss the matter. Lorric wants to enter Pazunia and find his mother, Kapek wants to return to civilization so he can have magic items made that will improve his chances of survival and everybody wants to return to Mabar and rescue the Gilded Man.
It takes some time but eventually a plan is reached. They will return to Stormreach where they will sell the items they have recovered then Kapek will use his share to commission the creation of items that will aid him.
Then they will return to the Expedition and gaurd it for the last two weeks, when it returns they will accompany it as far as Stormreach where Kapek will pick up his items. Then they will return to the area where they will enter Mabar to rescue the Gilded Man and then Pazunia to rescue Lorric's mother.
There is one final element, Oz had originally signed on only for the intial job to protect the Expedition. He announces that when they reach Stormreach he will depart for Sharn. It has been a fun ride with the Fists but Oz has wisely decided its time to cash in his share of the loot and buy a bar while he's still alive. He invites his comrades to drop in for a free drink anytime and the Fists wish him well with genuine affection, Oz has been with them through some amazing and dangerous events and none blame him for choosing a more peaceful path when the opportunity arises.

Into the Eternal Night

2011-09-28T01:14:00.008+01:00

As they rest Kapek raises objections to heading into Mabar without knowing anything about it and with no protection. Ajax uses his gem and discovers that if the realm has a minor negative aura upon entering they will start to die until there is nothing left of them but dust. If it has a major aura they will die much more quickly before becoming a Shadow.

Taking this into account it is decided they will put off entering the pocket realm and instead go in search of the Drow.

That night the Fists again hear unearthly wails coming from the north.

Mol, 9th Barrakas. 998 Y.K.

In the morning it is decided to have a quick check around the Necromancers tomb, mainly to see what was in the other room with the circle carved into the floor.

They enter the tomb without opposition and make their way to the entrance to the pocket realm of Mabar. There Ajax and Kapek find a fresh set of tracks. They are of a mummified human figure carrying a staff and accompanied by some form of large serpentine creature that, to Ajax's nose, stinks of sulphur.

As an experiment Lorric uses a Wand to summon a bird and then sends the unfortunate thing into the pocket realm. It lasts a few seconds before disintegrating into a pile of dust.

They travel to the right hand side where they again find eight smaller sarcophagi in two lines and one large one on its own. The eight small ones gape open and reveal shattered skeletons within. The large sarcophagus is cracked open to reveal a skeleton in it with an amulet around its neck. Mirra examines the amulet and declares it to be magical, further examination follows and she declares that it creates a field of Positive Energy in a 10 foot radius around it that will protect everyone in the field from the effects of being in a negative energy environment, such as in Mabar. Kapek volunteers to put it on.

Ajax examines the other room. The carvings in the floor form a semi-circle around a set of double-doors through which a red light glows. Mirra examines the runes carved by the circle and translates one of them to be PAZUNIA, one of the layers of the Abyss.

Ajax sniffs a trail of sulphur from the doors to the circle that leads to the pocket realm. It seems the master of the tower has summoned a little infernal help.

The discovery of the amulet changes matters considerably and the debate begins anew. Finally they decide that now they will enter the realm and confront the master of the tower. Together they step through into Mabar.

They find themselves on the edge of a 200 foot wide chasm. On the other side of it some three or four miles away they can see the tower.

They move around to the other side of the portal which is surrounded by six obelisks. They also find the tracks of the mummified humanoid and the large serpentine creature. They also spot a new set of tracks that seems to appear from out of nowhere to follow the other two. They are again of a humanoid creature but with cloth wrapped feet.

The Fists decide not to pursue the tracks but head straight to the tower. Mirra Dimension Door's the group across the chasm and they set off to the tower.

After travelling for about a mile through the dead and depressing terrain of the realm Lorric's trained eye spots two creatures waiting in ambush for them behind two pillars of rock situated in a gorge ahead of them and three more creatures circling high overhead.

The Fists move closer, faking ignorance of their would-be ambushers until close when Lorric charges the nearest one, a great shadowy form as black as sin and twice as threatening, a Nightstalker.

The Crimson Fists engage and discover that all but Ajax's claws don't seem to do there full damage. Though Ajax finds this to be a mixed blessing as the Nightstalker's claws cut through his own resistance to damage.

Two of the flying creatures swoop down out of the sky, revealing themselves to be huge shadowy bat like creatures, Nightwings ! They attack Lorric and Kapek.

The Fists are getting battered and four of the creatures are in range so Kapek decides it is time to use his big gun and summons the power of his Dragonmark and........ ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING HAPPENS ! The realm has completely suppressed Kapek's ability.

This puts a very new and terrifying perspective on the battle and even Ajax slaying his Nightstalker doesn't make the Fists feel any better about the way the battle is going.

Noticing the effect Ajax's claws are having Lorric whips out a silver tankard and is gratified to see it strike his Nightwing to full effect.

The remaining Nightstalker unleashes a 'Cone of Cold' on the Fists and then three Shadows spring from it. They rush forward and attack Kapek, leeching his strength from him. Lorric finsihes his opponent in a blur of tankard blows.

One of the Nightwings summons another two Shadows. Another swoops down to attack Mirra but Ajax leaps into its path and rips it to shreds before it can hurt her.

The Nightstalker intones a 'Finger of Death' and inflicts it on Kapek who manfully (halfingfully ?) resists it.

Lorric and Kapek slay the three Shadows attacking them. Another Shadow strikes Ajax draining his strength. Ajax ignores it and charges one of the Nightwings, slaying it and one of the Shadows.

One of the Nightwing disgorges three Shadows. The last Nightstalker tries to cast 'Confusion' on Kapek but he resists.

As Lorric and Kapek slay another Shadow the remaining ones meld into the walls of the gorge.

Ajax charges the last Nightstalker in a mad charge that takes him out of the range of the amulet and feels the aura of the realm start to eat into his health. Lorric charges in behind it and together they slay it.

Two of the Shadows flit from one wall straight into the other, both attacking Ajax as they pass. Luckily Kapek was waiting for this and lashes one with boomerangs causing it to miss its attack. The other doesn't.

Ajax whips out his Pincer Staff and attacks the last Nightwing as it floats safely, or so it thought, twenty five feet above them, instantly killing it.

The last Shadows flit from rock wall to rock wall again. Two hitting Ajax and one Kapek although he cuts it down with boomerangs as it flees.

Again the two remaining Shadows try their hit and hide tactic on Ajax but Lorric is ready and slays one. Kapek gets the other.

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes and then Ajax collapses under the weight of his gear. Without the boosted strength from his Shifted state and Rage after the Shadows Ajax barely has the strength to lift his head.

A glimpse of a golden gleam in a crevice leads to the creatures treasure cache and it is quickly looted. It is quickly and unanimously decided (for perhaps the first time in their history) that they aren't ready for the challenges of this realm yet.

Ajax transforms into a Dire Tiger (which he hadn't been aware he could do until then) giving him enough strength to get off the floor and Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and takes them back to the portal. They pass quickly through into the Tomb and there Kapek uses his Dragonmark to heal his comrades and, to his immense relief, restore Ajax's strength.

As they recover Kapek hears a voice in his head. It is the Drow Queen. She informs Kapek that she cannot contact her son anymore. Kapek reluctantly tells her that her son is dead. She orders him to return immediately.

Kapek informs the rest of the group of the message he has just received. This is unsurprisingly not a message they are happy to get. The fastest way to get to the Queen is for Mirra to cast 'Shadow Walk' but she cannot cast it again that day and so they settle down to rest until tomorrow when Mirra's magic can transport them. Of course they have yet to decide just where they will actually go.
Lorric believes to go back is almost certain suicide, that the Drow Queen will kill them for allowing her son to die. Kapek agrees its dangerous but feels that they gave their word to the expedition when they signed on and the expedition needs them to get the Drow to work with them. Ajax agrees with Kapek that they gave their word and maintains a belief that if the Drow turn on them they can fight their way out.
The argument goes back and forth but eventually Lorric accepts his two comrades determination to return the corpse of the Drow. He does insist that he be dropped off just short of the Drow hall as a last ditch rescuer if things go very wrong. The decision made the Fists settle down to what some of them believe has a very strong chance of being their last night alive.

Come the dawn the Fists offer up prayers to their deities and then gather up their goods and the corpses of their former comrades and Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk'. In a blur of shadows they are whisked across the countryside, Lorric jumping ship at what he hopes is a good spot, before the rest finish up in some familiar looking jungle.
The group soon bump into a Drow patrol who are clearly expecting them and insist on escorting them to their Queen. Accompanied by the patrol the Fists tread the familiar path to the Drow hall. Waiting for them there are the Queen and surrounding her fifty members of her Royal Gaurd. This does nothing to dent Ajax's (over) confidence and he whispers to Kapek that if he take the twenty five on the right, Kapek can take the twenty-five on the left.
The Queen calmly requests the Fists leave their packs and weapons behind and accompany her to a more 'private' room. The Fists dump their (obvious) weapons and follow the queen down a side passage from the hall to a comfortable room where they are encouraged to sit. When they are settled the Queen begins her questioning.
The Fists calmly, and without lying, inform her of what happened (they take some comfort from the fact she seems mildly pleased by the news of the extermination of The Shunned). Once they've finished the Queen calmly asks her questions. She seems very interested in what they found in the Necromancer's tomb and in the realm it leads to. She also asks if her son ever disapproved of the Fists exploring the ruins or suggested they go elsewhere which the Fists truthfully answer that he didn't.
Having finished her questioning she informs the group that she will now speak with her son and hear what he has to say. She hints that both her son and Oz may be restored if his answers back up the Fists story. Then she leaves.
The second she is out of the room Ajax leaps up and begins to search for the death trap he is certain the room contains. He finds no pit traps or acid chutes but does discover the cracks in the walls are packed with unfamiliar but nasty looking black scorpions.

Hours pass.
Outside Lorric hides in the jungle, watching and listening to the patrols and working on his Drow disguise in case the Hat of Disguise is neutralized. It soon becomes obvious to him that the Drow are on a much higher state of alert than last time and it is not (just) ego that tells him it is him they are looking for. When after the passage of hours he hears guards saying the strangers are almost certainly doomed he decides its time to act.
Carefully he stalks one of the patrols, at an opportune moment a thrown stone attracts the attention of the patrol in the wrong direction and as they look where it fell Lorric leaps on the last man in the patrol, knocks him out and stuffs him into the undergrowth out of sight. Hearing the sound of the body hitting the floor the Drow look round but Lorric is in his place, his 'Hat of Disguise' making him look like the missing Drow. The patrol leader inquires what the noise was and Lorric picks up the unconscious Drow's bow and claims he dropped it when a sudden attack of weakness struck him. The magic of the 'Hat of Disguise' and Lorric's acting skills are perfectly convincing and the patrol accept that Lorric is their comrade.
Sure all is well the patrol, with Lorric in tow, march straight into the Drow halls. However Lorric's plan instantly starts to unravel when the patrol is met by the Queen's Guards and asked if anything strange happened while they were patrolling. The leader mentions one of his patrol sudden attack of weakness and the Guard instantly call for the High Sorcerer. The Sorcerer quickly appears and the situation is explained to him. He casts a spell and then with a sly grin turns to Lorric and compliments him upon his skills to get so far when the Drow were on their highest alert after his exploits penetrating their security last time.
Lorric accepts his capture and tells how he got in and where the unconscious Drow can be found. The Sorcerer assigns some Guards to escort Lorric to his comrades and some to find the missing Drow. Then he sends the patrol off to be punished for their failure.
Lorric joins the rest of the Crimson Fist and they exchange their stories of what has happened since they were parted.
At dusk a Drow appears with food for all of them, even tasting from each plate to show it isn't poisoned. Some of the Fists eat, others refrain.

*Ajax comments
Ajax devours his meal and the meals of the more cautious members of the group. He finds the Drow swamp based cuisine to be very much to his liking, especially the centipede stew and the blood-fed leeches.
Night falls and the Fists settle down to sleep, although they maintain their standard sentry routine. The night passes peacefully.

Zol, 10th Barrakas. 998 Y.K.
A bit after dawn a Drow appears and escorts the Fists to a room they have never seen before. Waiting for them are ten Royal Guard, the High Sorcerer, the Queen and Celadrus. However Celadrus's ears have been crudely cropped of their tips and a ugly purple mark disfigures his forehead. Mirra recognizes this as the result of a 'Mark of the Outcast' being inflicted on him.
The Queen explains that her interrogation has revealed that Celedrus rather than leading the Crimson Fists to the lakes to the north as she had ordered had deliberately lead them to the ruins, seeking power for himself. For this crime he has been exiled but may earn his way back into Drow society if he helps the Fists find her missing people. She further tells the Fists that if they want Celedrus to accompany them he will be utterly under there command. She informs the Fists she is willing to hold with the original deal and if they find her missing people the expedition will be allowed to explore as they will. There is a brief debate and the Fists decide they will keep to the deal and find the missing Drow.
The Queen then informs the Fists that as she promised Oz has been restored and he enters and with many glad cries is reunited with his comrades.
Kapek inquires if it might be possible for them to trade with the Drow, exchanging some of the loot they have picked up for some more useful magical items. The Queen tells them to talk to the High Sorcerer and then sweeps imperiously out of the room.
The Fists turn to the High Sorcerer and a extended period of hard bargaining commences. Finally all the Fists are happy with the items they have traded with the Drow and with a weary and dispirited Celedrus in tow they leave the Drow halls.

*Ajax comments
Ajax secures for himself a Ring of Resistance, a Wilding clasp (which he attaches to his chain shirt) and a Vest of Freedom, the only item he hadn't got from the Array of the Swift Warrior

The Fists wait until they are well away from the Drow before they start to talk to Celedrus. Interestingly he has a different take of events, claiming he wanted to explore the ruins so they could be used by his people and not for his own personal power. When asked about where they are now heading he says that in times past something immensely evil fell from the skies to there. Something called 'The Tear of Death'.
Cleldrus confirms he is under their command and inquires what spells he should learn for the 'morrow. The Fists try to cheer him up, suggesting he may start a new life away from the jungles of Xendrik. Ajax points out that in the outside world woman are generally not in charge but Celedrus finds this hard to believe, claiming only women are cruel enough to rule.
Having got what info they can from Celedrus Mirra casts 'Shadow Walk' and they travel to the lake. Which turns out to have no water in it. Around the empty lake the land is barren of all life, above them an evil moon leers down indicating that once again they are in the area where the influence of Mabar leaks in.
Circling high in the sky above them are two Atrophal Psions and one Dark Angel. Although they pay the Fists no attention. Strange howls and moans echoes on the winds from the North. Here they find two dead trees and around dance two strange, transparent figures. They appear to be Dryads but immaterial.
Ajax approaches and instantly the two figures charge towards him, screaming their hatred to the turbulent skies...............

Mabar Awaits

2011-09-16T00:57:00.016+01:00

6. The Stage

Bas-reliefs depict giant guardians either side of the main entrance, a huge stone door that stands open but an inch or so. There are 2 to each side, their faces contorted into fierce grimaces, an obvious attempt to deter trespassers. A fifth figure carved from granite above the door seems to watch all that approach with menace, carved as if poised to pounce.

This area provides a clear view of the necromancer's domain. From this position the moon can be clearly seen overhead, unearthly wails spew forth from the heavens filling your minds with unutterable blasphemies. This dark speech tells of how the dead shall rise and destroy the essence of everything.

They speak of the 'Sundered Tower' and of 'Gorguth', the 'Bleak General' who shall lead the armies of death across the face of Eberron. They speak of the 'Tears of Atropos' that fell from the moonlet, and their awakening of ‘Shothragot’, the force that lies beneath the surface. Images pour into your minds of foul pits spawning insects that follow the will of their masters, ancient and foul evils trapped deep within Khyber for millions of years, their vengeful intent growing with each passing year. Whilst bathed in the subtle glow of this celestial body the chaos and confusion continues.

From the very walls of the building before you the bas-reliefs begin to creak and judder their way out of the masonry, turning their angry faces to glare at you they raise their fists to attack.

Having taken a few minutes to wash the gore of dozens of Abyssal Ghouls off themselves the Fists set off to explore the rest of the ruins, with Oz and Lorric scouting ahead.

As they approach the wails echo from the ruins and the ground shudders beneath their feet and the moon seems to leer down from the sky at them. Even for Mabar the area seems dark and unsettling.The four statues of the giants begin to stir. As they near the statues the evil enchantments that saturate the area begins to affects them. Oz babbles mindlessly and Ajax attacks Kapek's mount in a mindless fury. Realizing what is happening Lorric grabs Oz (who is now starring blankly into space) and drags him away from the statues. Once out of earshot of the unearthly wails Oz returns to normal. Seeing this work Lorric then proceeds to also drag Ajax out of the area.

Meanwhile the statues have fully awakened and begin to pull themselves free from the building. Oz and Kapek open fire on them and Mirra casts Haste and then begins to intone tales of heroism to inspire her comrades.

Ajax, ignoring the fact, or just not remembering, that he's entering the zone of the mind-altering magic, charges one of the statues but his blows seem to have less effect than normal on the stony giant. Lorric joins him and finishes off the statue with his admantium fists. One of the other golems gestures at Lorric and he feels something scrabbling at his mind but throws it off.

Ajax is suddenly filled with terror and flees the scene. With a huge shaking of the earth the massive statue of the giant above the doorway rips its way free of the building and leaps down to the ground.

Lorric is assaulted by another of the golems and strikes back only to see it disintegrate when hit by a hail of Kapek's Force boomerangs. Meanwhile outside the area of the enchantment Ajax recovers his mind and, somewhat shamefacedly, runs back to the combat.

The largest of the golem lumbers over to attack Lorric but he tumbles away from it and engages another golem.

Not one to shirk from a challenge Ajax charges the largest of the golems. It responds by 'Slowing' him, which counters the 'Haste' cast on him by Mirra, then hammers him into the ground with its massive fists. Meanwhile Lorric engaging the last two golems, slays one. Oz rushes in to get a better angle for his shot but is rendered senseless by the enchantment.

As Ajax and the largest golem exchange blows Lorric finishes his last opponent and Mirra drags Oz out of the area although he responds by shooting her. Kapek leaps on Oz and, to Oz's eternal humiliation, grapples him to the ground and pins him.

Ajax is 'Slowed' and then has the living crap beaten out of him before Lorric charges his opponent from behind and finishes him.

There follows a long gap which involves much use of the Fists various healing wands before everybody is feeling healthy again. This is followed by a even longer gap as Kapek tries to pass through the area of enchantment and repeatedly fails to resist its effects !

Mirra feels the Confusion effect is created by the moon, if they are hidden from it she feels they won't be affected.

Lorric, who has successfully resisted the confusion, examines the door to the building and discovers its locked. Oz, carefully, joins him and discovers the door is trapped so spikes will spring from the ground. Therefore a rope is tied to the roof of the building and tied round Oz and then he is hauled into the air so he can pick the lock in safety. Which, despite his discomfort, he quickly does.

7. The Necromancers Tomb

Giant stairs lead down into utter darkness, flanked on either side by a series of more usual sized stairs. Images on the walls show scenes of dark landscapes, fractured towers and legions of undead marching beneath skies of roiling blackness. Although the paint is dried and flaky now, these scenes still fill you with a sense of trepidation.

The door however is just to heavy for the two of them to move so the rest of the Fists join them and eventually manage to wrestle open the door enough for them to squeeze through. Revealed is a large set of stairs heading down, flanked by two narrower set of steps.

With Oz and Lorric once again in the lead they head down the stairs. About two hundred feet down the scouts notice two giant spiders ahead of them. The two of them sneak closer then Oz opens fire and Lorric charges one. Oz's spider charges him biting him and draining his strength down to practically nothing.

Back at the rest of the group a dark figure rises through the floor, its very presence chilling the blood as it attacks Mirra. Ajax charges past it and slays the spider attacking Oz as Lorric slay his spider. A second figure appears, radiating a dark aura that 'Fatigues' everybody.

The first figure vanishes into the floor and the second charges Oz and merely touches him but it is enough to drop Oz dead on the spot. Ajax attacks it with a roar of rage, some of his attacks simply pass straight through the creature but enough land to kill it .

The last creature rises through the floor next to Ajax. It shoots a ray of black light at him, rendering him 'Exhausted' and then hits him twice but the robust Shifter refuses to die. Then the rest of the Crimson Fist pile onto the creature slaying it.

Exhausted, demoralized and horrified by the loss of their comrade the Fists gather up Oz's remains and leave the building. As they make camp for the night Mirra informs them the creatures were 'Phantasmal Slayers'. Things that exist to drive people to death through fear. It is said the creator of the spell 'Phantasmal Killer' based it on these creatures.

As they eat their evening meal the Fists wearily discuss the loss of Oz and the high casualty rate among their associates and what, if anything, they can do about it.

Early in the morning those on watch notice the blankets that have been wrapped around Oz to protect him from insects twitching. They unwrap his head to see him starring at them, snapping his teeth in a futile attempt to sink them into their flesh. Ajax restrains Oz with his pincer staff while Mirra checks his vital signs. She confirms their worst fears, Oz is dead.

Kapek solemnly declares there is only one way to end their comrade's curse with respect.He invokes the power of his Dragonmark and in a burst of pure light and healing energy Oz is laid to rest.

In the morning they eat and pray and then grimly return to the building. Another two hundred feet past the point they encountered the 'Phantasmal Killers' they come to huge double doors with an inscription in Giantish above them.

Mirra translates it for them.

“Here Lies Faeriax’soth Master of Life and Death. Master of Insects, Disciple of Vermin, Lord of All That has Passed and of All Things to Come.”

She tells how Faeriax'soth was a mighty necromancer in ages past who became a lich before creating a pocket realm in Mabar where he dwelled. She also tells of the hero, a member of the Church of the Silver Flame, who entered this realm to destroy the Lich.

*Ajax comments
Ajax shudders nervously at the mention of the Church of the Silver Flame.

Kapek reminds them of the fragments they have heard of the 'Gilded Man' in relation to the Prophecy.

Ajax checks the door and finds it neither locked nor trapped. All present take a deep breath and push the door open.

*Ajax comments
With Oz gone it is left to Ajax to check for traps and pick locks although he's aware he is no match for Oz's skills in either departement.

As the door slowly opens a cloud of smoky shadow billows forth from the interior, it threatens to suffocate you but you realise that the feeling is simply anticipation and trepidation rising from within yourselves.

Darkness lies beyond, a gentle wailing chant echoes from somewhere within carried on an ethereal breeze. As your eyes become accustomed to the darkness you see what looks like several giants standing in rows on either side of a grand hall, their 40ft hulking forms pushing against the ceiling to keep it from crashing down.

The air in here carries the cold chill of death, cold wisps of air gently brush your skin without sound or source.

This place has the air of a tomb, tattered banners of an age lost in time hang from the walls, barely holding themselves together as time has decayed their threads.

With a whisper the door swings open, a gentle wailing chant sounds in the distance and the hall is shrouded in shadows. A line of pillars carved into the form of giants leads down either side of the hall. In the middle of the hall, a few from the door is a stone altar with a small depression holding water on its top. As the Fists enter their feet gently crunch on the forms of myriad insects. To the right and left of the entrance are shimmering Walls of Force barring entry to small rooms with unhealthy looking diagrams carved into the floor.
Suddenly footsteps sound, moving down the hall as simultaneously the doors behind the Fists slam loudly shut!

The walls in this place shimmer with crawling vermin, ten great statues line the great hall each built to look like they are holding up the ceiling.
A font lies at the entrance to the hall and far across the other side and up a set of stairs you can see dim green flames adorning an altar of some kind.
On the wall behind you can faintly see a mural depicting a falling star that crashes into the jungle. From this star spring dark shapes, the fallen returning to life and the birth of a force that controls them all.
To either side you can see translucent walls that glow faintly with magical energy, beyond are ritual circles carved into the floor and hanging above each circle are images that distort your perceptions, being both close and distant at the same time. Any details are unclear due to the wards that stand between you and them.

Within the circle beyond the northernmost shimmering veil, in the distance, a tower can be seen apparently floating. Rope-like tendrils can be seen drifting into the shadows below it as if tethering it to the ground.
Within the southern circle, a dim red glow can be seen from narrow cracks as though there is light seeping in from around a pair of double doors.

Lorric's sharp eyes pick out the creatures and he whispers a description via the Message spell to Mirra who identifies the two creatures as Death Giants.
As they close the wails of the damned souls surrounding the Death Giants chill the blood. Mirra sings a uplifting song and cancels out the effect. Kapek summons a dinosaur to ride. Suddenly a oily blackness engulfs Mirra, Ajax and Kapek, wounding them and instantly slaying Kapek's dinosaur. This is followed an instant later by a roaring column of divine fire that hits Kapek and Mirra. Kapek opens up with his boomerangs and Mirra heals Kapek and then prudently retreats into a corner.
Ajax charges one of the Death Giants and lays into it doing hideous damage. Meanwhile the insects on the floor stir and gather in disturbingly organized patterns. Lorric charges Ajax's Giant in the rear and slays it. The second Death Giant retreats behind a pillar, out of sight.
Nine swarms form out of the insects and attack the Fists. Ajax and Mirra throw flasks of Alchemists Fire at the hordes of insects. Kapek hurriedly summons yet another dinosaur then shows off his skill with missile weapons and throws a flurry of three flasks creating a wall of flames cutting into the swarms.
Then Lorric and Ajax attack the last Death Giant, Lorric strikes at it then retreats, it turns round and strikes Ajax a massive blow with its giant sized two-handed axe. Ajax declares " Is that all you got?" strikes back and slays it.
Mirra hurls yet another flask of Alchemist Fire and then leaps onto the back of Kapek's raptor, right behind him.
While all this is happening, unnoticed in the background one of the swarms coalesces into one creature, a withered corpse-like being dressed in rags. It is joined by two more huge creatures.
Mirra, hanging on to Kapek like grim death, manages to slay a swarm with another flask of Alchemist Fire. She hears the two new arrivals casting Shield on themselves.
Lorric uses his 'Necklace of Fireballs' on the swarms surrounding Kapek and Mirra, destroying one of the swarms and carving a path through them which Kapek quickly rides through.

One of the new creatures fires a swarm of glowing meteors at the Fists which explode to devastating and wide-spread effect (but also takes out two of the swarms and yet another of Kapek's luckless summoned dinosaurs). Mirra now identifies the two creatures as Grisgol. and the creature formed from one of the swarms as a Swarm Shifter.
Kapek painfully aware of how battered, burnt, blasted, beaten and poisoned his comrades and him are, uses his Dragonmark to cast Mass Heal on them.
The ground between the Fists and their opponents erupts with spikes. Lorric nimbly runs across the terrain, sweeps behind the enemy, charges in and runs straight into some sort of force field. Ten feet out from them Lorric is bounced of an invisible wall. He runs back to his comrades.
Mirra casts Dimension Door on everyone, planning to transport them all inside the force field. It doesn't work, Kapek and Mirra are the only ones who land inside the field and they are instantly shunted outside it, Lorric and Ajax are left ten foot further away.
One of the Grisgol casts Horrid Wilting. Ajax and Lorric try to attack but are deflected by the field, which Mirra identifies as an Anti-Life Shell. The other Grisgol gestures and a line of fire shoots from his hands and strikes Ajax and is then followed by a Flame Strike.
Lorric whips out a three sectioned staff and attacks one of the Grisgol from beyond the Anti-Life Shell. He strikes it unleashing clouds of choking dust. Kapek and Mirra retreat away out of the Shell.
Ajax draws his Pincer Staff and from beyond the Anti-Life Shell' strikes the Swarm Shifter then snaps the collar of the weapon around it's neck, trapping it. Then to his intense irritation it turns back into a swarm of insects and flows out of the grip of the staff.
Lorric's Grisgol tries to cast Chain Lightning but, probably thanks to the damage inflicted by Lorric, the spell fizzles. The other one casts Ice Storm on Ajax and Kapek. Kapek uses his Dragonmark again, healing his comrades and hurting the Swarm Shifter.
Ajax attacks the other Grisgol and then snaps the Pincer Staff around it. Mirra 'Inspires Greatness' in Kapek and Ajax.
Lorric and Kapek pound on their Grisgol with staff and force boomerang.
Ajax resists the Grisgol's attempts to free itself and then taking a firm grip on the staff pushes it out of the Anti-Life Shell and straight into the Spike Stones.

The Swarm Shifter slithers away into the darkness away from the melee.
Lorric leaps on the Grisgol Ajax had pushed out of the Anti-Life Shell. Finally able to close with it he drops his three section staff and with his admantium fists flying he kills it.
Ajax guesses with the Swarm Shifter fled the Anti-Life Shell will be down and successfully charges the last Grisgol, while Mirra and Kapek deluge the Swarm Shifter with Alchemist Fire. Ajax is hit several times by the Grisgol but shrugs off the negative energy within the attacks. Ajax hits back and then grapples it.
Leaving Ajax to fight the Grisgol, Lorric and Kapek pursue the Swarm Shifter. Its attempts to disguise itself among the hordes of insects are ruined by the fact that its still on fire. They pound it with Alchemists Fire (and Alchemist frost in Kapek's case, as he has run out of Alchemist Fire). It makes no hostile move in return but continues to flow its way to the rear of the hall.
The Swarm Shifter reaches the end of the hall and scuttles around the corner to a room which contains a large sarcophagus placed on its own along with eight smaller ones in two lines. Beyond it they see the small room they'd seen through the 'Wall of Force' earlier. The creature seems to be heading for the circle carved into the floor. As the Crimson Fists enter the room they hear the grinding sound of stone-on-stone.
Ajax slashes the last Grisgol into tiny pieces and then grabs Mirra, hoists her on his shoulders and runs to catch up with his comrades.
Kapek and Lorric pursue the Swarm Shifter pelting it with Alchemist Fire, Frost, Acid and anything else they have that does area effect damage. Then the sound of stone on stone intensifies as the lids of the eight small sarcophagus slide off revealing eight, strange mis-shapen creatures.
Ajax and Mirra catch up just in time to see the creatures emerge and for Mirra to identify them as a particulalrly disgusting form of undead called Plague Spewers. They start to advance on the Fists. Mirra responds by casting Haste.
Two of the creatures attack and two vomit up swarms of rats. The Swarm Shifter wends its way between them, putting them between itself and the Fists.
Lorric hurls the last bead from his 'Necklace of Fireballs' into the middle of their enemies, killing one of the rat swarms but NOT the Swarm Shifter.

Ajax engages the first Plague Spewer as two more vomit up rat swarms. Leaving the rest of the group to deal with the Plague Spewers Lorric tumbles past them and the ever-growing number of rat swarms and races ahead of the Swarm Shifter stopping just short of the circle.
Back in the sarcophagus room Ajax places himself between the Plague Spewers and the others and one-by-one begins to slaughter them with great joy. While behind him Kapek keeps up a steady flow of flasks of acidic fire into the rat swarms.
As the Swarm Shifter rushes to the circle Lorric gets in a last attack with a flask of 'Holy Water'. The creature burns and withers but it flows into the circle and vanishes.
Lorric swears fluently and returns to join Ajax and helps finish off the last of the Plague Spewers. While Kapek and Mirra finish off the rat swarms with flasks of Alchemist Spark.
After a brief pause for breath they check out the large sarcophagus. Having discerned to the best of their now limited abilities that it isn't trapped they push it open to reveal the treasure within.
Greatly cheered by this (though again disappointed by their inability to turn it into anything useful or pleasurable in the middle of Xen'drik) they go to examine the circle. On closer examination the circle contains a hole that drops into another realm. One of roiling clouds and dark shadows. In the distance they can see a tower floating in the air, connected to the ground by ropes, but wether this is for entry into the tower or to tether it to the ground no-one knows.
This seems to be the dark tower where it is said the Gilded Man is held. It is also they're sure deeper into Mabar than they are now. After a brief debate they decide they will explore the tower but not until Kapek's Dragonmark is renewed at dawn. Until then they settle down to identify their new loot.

Oinia - Land of Eternal Night

2011-08-17T01:36:00.015+01:00

The Fists return to their boat and begin to paddle the short distance across to the island on which the ruins reside. As they cross they become aware of dark shapes moving clumsily in the water beneath them but they reach the shore unmolested. They begin to move along the shore-line towards the ruins but have not travelled far before the water near them begins to churn as five water-logged corpses claw their way out of the water. The Fists recognize these monsters from previous encounters, they are DROWNED.

Kapek and Oz open fire as the creatures drag themselves towards the group. As the Drowned close in the Fists feel the sickeningly familiar sensation of drowning creep over them. Celedrus casts Flame Strike on a group of the creatures and then collapses chocking to the ground as the creatures aura overwhelms him.

Ajax shrugs off the suffocating effects of the Drowned and charges them, killing one. Lorric quickly drags the drowning Celedrus clear of the creatures auras before he dies. Another Drowned emerges from the water.

Kapek uses his wand to Summon a mount and then leaps onto its back and charges into battle, only to have his mount immediately collapse from underneath him, drowning.

As the Drowned advance more and more auras wash over Kapek and Ajax but resolutely Ajax stands his ground, slaying another enemy. Kapek Summons a bee and flies straight up on it, out of range of the aura. Ajax is surrounded by the remaining Drowned but fights on killing another.

Kapek dives his bee down and strafes the Drowned with force boomerangs slaying one. Lorric charges in engages the enemy. Between them Lorric and Ajax slay their opponents,the last of the undead monstrosities.

After a brief rest the group push on to the ruins.

The Necromantic Ruins

As they approach they notice an insectoid leg poking out from behind the rubble. Suddenly an eerie howl rings out from the rubble and nausea rises in the group but quickly Mirra bursts into song, countering and neutralising the sickening effect of the cries.

Celedrus recognizes the signs, saying they are creatures his people call The Shunned. Once Drow but horribly altered by the touch of the Quori. The normal Drow have driven them into this area and regard them with fear and loathing.

1. Pavilion of the Shunned
The huge dome of this structure once gleamed with heavenly radiance, but it now stands a tarnished and crumbling shadow of its former glory.
Steps lead up some 50 feet to the broken plinth that supports the squat building. To the west of the building are 3 large pillars, only two of which still stand.
From the platform you can see through the swamp mists, to the north-west across a body of dark still water, the crumbling ruins and giant statues that were obviously part of a larger group of structures.

As they watch a patch of darkness spreads out from the ruins, obscuring the part where they had seen the insectoid leg. Celedrus casts Ebon Eyes on Lorric and he sneaks forward to scout the ground. He sneaks up on and observes one of The Shunned waiting in the darkness. Then it begins to sneak forward, making an instant decision Lorric leaps to the attack and slays it with one blow !

Lorric's sharp ears catches the sound of movement in the undergrowth in the ruins as something moves off. Lorric pursues it and discovers another of the Shunned sneaking off and kills it as well.

The rest of the group catch up with Lorric and are shocked by the sight of the Shunned (indeed a brief argument breaks out as to whether they were the weirdest thing the Fists have ever encountered). Ajax and Kapek check the grounds for tracks. They found no tracks of Drow but the ground is criss-crossed with myriad tracks of the Shunned.

It looks increasingly unlikely that any of the missing Drow will be found here but in the interests of leaving no stone unturned the Fists decide to search the ruins.

The open archway leads to a shadowy ruined hall, shafts of light cut through the holes in the domed ceiling, dust and rubble is strewn about the floor and there are signs of predation everywhere. Directly opposite the entrance is what appears to be an altar that has been kept well in contrast to the surroundings, scorpions, spiders, flies and other vermin adorn the altar either through artistic medium or simply through their chitinous remains. A large bowl in the centre of the altar is flanked by black candles, and upon the wall is a crudely painted symbol that looks somewhat like a scorpion dangling by its tail, which is threaded through the eye sockets of a jawless skull covered with twisted runes. To either side of the room staircases lead down.

The first building contains an altar, which appears to be to a debased version of the Drow scorpion god, and stairs that lead underground on the ground floor. And in the rubble of the first floor lurk six more of the Shunned.

Lorric addresses them in elvish and they reply in the same language. They recognize Celedrus as a Drow, who they clearly dislike but are too scared of the Fists to attack. They also mention that a mighty undead dragon lairs not 300 feet away when it wasn't searching for its missing horde. They also made passing reference to 'masters' whom they served.

Then Lorric asks if they intend to eat the group when darkness falls. The Shunned's smug smile is all the answer Lorric needs and he attacks without another word.

Ajax attacks another and Oz opens fire. One of the Shunned wails and Oz is sickened and the creature seizes its chance to retreat down the stairs. Another spews forth a swarm of scorpions. The one fighting Ajax does the same then also retreats down the stairs.

Kapek takes out the first swarm with a flask of Alchemists Fire, while Mirra hits the swarm attacking Ajax (as well as Ajax) with another flask. Lorric slays the Shunned he is fighting. Ajax tumbles away from the swarm that had engulfed him and finishes it with another flask of Alchemist Fire.

Lorric and Kapek cautiously follows the Shunned down the stairs to the underground level of the building. He observes a decaying hall in which a score of the Shunned lurk and from steps leading further underground a giant, purple, insectoid creature emerges.

Lorric and Kapek are suddenly outlined by vivid purple fire, that doesn't burn but does give away their position. They quickly retreat up the stairs to prepare for battle. Celedrus casts Bull Strength on Ajax and Lorric. Ajax casts Bark Skin from his 'Hand of the Oakfather' on himself and Mirra casts Sonic Weapon on Kapek and then Haste and then begins to recite tales of glory.

As the purple insect comes into view it is identified as a demon known as a Bebilith. It spits webbing at Oz but misses and Kapek replies with force boomerangs. Lorric leaps onto its back as another appears. Ajax joins in the attack on the first Bebilith and then Oz puts an arrow through a hole torn in its hide straight into its heart and it falls.

*Oz comments
Oz is Sooooooo glad to be fighting something that he can really hurt with his arrows and not more shanari (elvish word for goblin droppings) undead.

The second Bebilith charges Kapek and bites him, injecting poison into him but the sturdy halfling throws off the effects. Lorric and Ajax charge the creature and slay it. Ajax chops off the Bebilith's head and then throw it down the stairs, yelling to the hiding Shunned, "Is this the best you've got !"

The group head down the stairs to find the Shunned cowering in the corners of the hall. They head down the next set of steps and discovers a room half flooded with water. A crack in the rock at the far end of the room leads to half collapsed room with enticing glittering objects in it. Kapek squeezes through the crack and recovers the loot and then returns.

The Fists debate briefly as to what their next move should be. It is considered extremely doubtful that any of the Drow they're searching for are in this area but it is decided to search it to be absolutely sure. They carefully look over the area. Nearby is a structure with four towers. This is where the Shunned said the undead Dragon resides. So with their eyes peeled they move to where the four towers rest.

As they approach the sky darkens, the clouds roll more swiftly in the sky overhead and the temperature drops. The sky becomes a starless black depth with the exception of on single heavenly body; The World Born Dead can clearly be seen in the blackness above, the moonlet sits high in the heavens and although it emits no light, it is marginally paler than the darkness beyond. Lorric backs up and the weather changes for him as he exits the area. Mirra starts to cast Detect Magic but halts as she feels the power that will overwhelm her if she finishes casting.

Celedrus believes the area is connected to the plane of Mabar. Leaving the Crimson Fists to nervously wonder if the dragon that dwells here is the Mabarian himself.

3. The Watchmen
These statues are 50 feet wide at their base and tower a magnificent 200 feet or more above the surrounding swamp. Each is a distinctly different figure although they are broken and crumbling in places. The jungle has tried to cover these great monuments but has succeeded only in covering their feet with a thick matting of green.

Despite this the group moves on with Lorric sneaking ahead of them to scout the way. He sees three creatures emerge from the solid rock of the statue ahead. Three fifteen foot high pillars of darkness. Mirra believes them to be living spells, Blasphemy spells. Creatures that exist only to destroy.

Mirra recites tales of glory and Lorric opens fire with his sling but the shot passes straight through the creature, doing no harm. Kapek's Force boomerangs however strike true and damage the creatures.

One of the creatures attacks Lorric but he strikes it true and stuns it. Ajax attacks it from behind Lorric with his Pincer Staff, killing it. The second creature disintegrates under a hail of Force boomerangs. The final creature charges in but is swiftly dispatched by Lorric and Ajax.

5. The Speakers Platform

This large, stepped platform is almost in the centre of the stronghold. A plinth at its peak holds a huge, weathered lectern, a small set of steps rise in front of it, perhaps so that smaller beings could also use it.

4. The Four Towers
The platform that rises out of the waters here has four stone structures upon it, these cylinders of stone have broken in places but the orifices that used to be windows can be made out. It looks as though these used to be towers, but they were certainly not for use by giants.

Cautiously the Fists continue their advance towards the towers. The first two towers are completely empty but in the third, Lorric catches a glimpse of a shadowy dragon's head before it dips into the floor and vanishes into the solid stone. Suddenly the group feel the all too familiar sensation of their lungs filling with water. Drowned are near !

Five drowned pull themselves out of the water and with a strangled gasp Celedrus collapses to the ground along with Oz and Mirra. Simultaneously the ghostly form of a green dragon rises from the water (which comes as something of a relief as the Mabarian is said to be of the Black variety) and breathes a cloud of acid over the half of the party still standing. In response Kapek invokes the power of his Dragonmark and in a massive burst of pure, white light a Mass Heal engulfs the area, healing his comrades and smiting the undead.

Ajax Shifts and Rages and charges the wounded Drowned and slays two of them in a blur of claws. With lightning speed Lorric charges in to the combat and engages one of the Drowned. Oz, Mirra and Celedrus drag themselves out of the area of the Drowned and can breathe again.

One of the Drowned charges Kapek, the other two charge Lorric. As they move closer their aura engulfs the group and Oz, Mirra and Celedrus drop again. The Dragon charges Ajax its aura of negative energy robbing him of life and strength.

Kapek slays one of the Drowned as does Lorric. Ajax tumbles away from the Dragon and attacks the last Drowned and finishes it off, removing the Drowned aura from their fallen comrades. Oz unsteadily arises and quaffs a Healing Potion, Celedrus casts Mass Cure Light Wounds and Mirra casts Haste on the party.

The Dragon moves in and unleashes its breath weapon on the group, draining everybody's vitality. Celedrus, already weakened by the Drowned, drops like a stone.

Ajax charges the Dragon head on and Lorric sweeps around to attack its back. The three exchange a storm of blows and then Kapek's Force boomerangs finish the matter.

Mirra rushes over to examine Celedrus but, despite not having a wound on him, he is dead. Silence descends, everyone is thinking how the Drow queen will react to the death of her son. No-one thinks it will be good.

Lorric and Kapek slip into the lagoon to investigate its waters. They find the floor of the lagoon carpeted with decaying bodies. They encounter two ooze like creatures which attack them but are easily dealt with.

Exhausted and uncertain what to do now Celedrus is dead they decide to find a spot to rest and recuperate and consider their next move.

Sar 7th Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

The night is full of the strange cries in the darkness but nothing bother the camp and the night passes.

In the morning the Fists get down to the serious matter of deciding what they do next. They realise if they don't return Celedrus's body to the queen they are condemning the expedition to failure. But what will be their fate if they present the queen with the corpse of her son? What they know of Drow leads them to believe that as a people they admire strength and will and so they hope the blame will fall more on Celedrus for being weak then them for not saving him. It is also very likely the Drow queen will have someone in her realm who can return Celedrus to life. In the end the decision is made; they have been contracted to help the expedition and they must do everything in their power to honour the contract.

Having decided they must inform the Drow queen they do decide the news will go better if they're accompanied by her missing subjects. So Celedrus's body is wrapped tightly in blankets to keep the insects at bay and lofted onto Ajax's shoulders and they begin to search again.

Unlikely as it is that the Drow are in the ruins it is the closest thing to the Fists and so they decide to cover the entire area before they move on.

They quickly discover the ground is now covered with strange tracks which neither Ajax nor Kapek can identify. However between Ajax's nose and Kapek's eye they reckon the tracks are of some form of undead. Following the most recent set of tracks leads them to the fresh corpses of Shunned.

The tracks lead them to another ruined building. It is almost completely collapsed, all that is intact is an archway that stands over stairs that lead down into the darkness. Strange cries and screams echo up from the darkness.

2. The Abyssal Hive

The building before you has all but collapsed, the only parts that remain are a large archway that leads directly into a staircase on a giant scale, beside this is a smaller elven size set of stairs. These stairs lead down into utter darkness, sounds of screams, howls and growling echo from far below.

The stairs lead down for perhaps 500 feet before they simply end with a sheer drop. The smell of decay and rotting matter assails your nostrils.

With a light source you can make out a great hall some 150 feet long, 100 feet wide and 100 feet high, filled with tumbled pillars, collapsed walls, and vast mounds of rubble creating an almost web-like tangle of masonry. Just below the end of the stairs is one end of a tumbled pillar allowing access into this sandstone jungle of ruins. Crawling across the walls and amid the ruins are multitude humanoid forms, the floor is barely visible through the spoils of their predation, bones, clothing, fur and feathers can be seen in the thick carpet of guano and festering mulch.

As they descend the stairs the sky darkens and the clouds roll in the way they now recognise as them passing into the realm of Mabar. The stairs descend until they end in a sheer drop to the floor of a hall some forty feet below. A pillar has fallen against the cliff providing a ladder down to the floor. Crawling over the walls are a few humanoid creatures. Mirra identifies them as Abyssal Ghouls and Ajax and Kapek believe they'd leave the kind of tracks the group followed here.

Deciding the Ghouls aren't going to be friendly the Crimson Fists open fire. The ghouls quickly scuttle into cover, one under the pillar that leads to the floor. Lorric climbs onto the underside of the pillar and kills it.

Unable to resist the temptation Ajax grabs his shield and slides down the pillar to the floor below. Lorric joins him and together they charge off to engage two of the creatures who are in hiding (although it turns out when they reach them there are three of them). As they battle Ajax discovers to his horror that the flames sheathing his claws heal the Ghouls, but then of course Ajax is not known for his wit and does not realise that the are simply resistant to flame.

Two of the Ghouls flank Lorric and the third and a new one flank Ajax. Kapek summons a dinosaur and rides down the pillar accompanied by Oz, only to be attacked at its foot by three more Ghouls. More move up to threaten him, and more and more. As the Fists find themselves facing nineteen foes.

Realising they are in imminent danger of being overwhelmed the Fists change their tactics. Lorric and Ajax tumble past multiple foes, and in Ajax's case over one, to join up with Kapek at the foot of the pillar where they slay one of the Ghouls.

Kapek slays another Ghoul and then has his dinosaur cut from under him but lands gracefully and ready to fight.

The Ghouls rush in, completely surrounding the three as nine more Ghouls emerge from the shadows at the edges of the hall.

Oz finds himself face-to-face with one of the Ghouls. This is not his preferred fighting position and he tumbles away from the Ghoul and back up the pillar.

Lorric flurries on a already wounded Ghoul but to his, and his comrades, horror it takes five of his blows to finish his opponent.

Ajax, surrounded by seven Ghouls backs up and then lays about him in a fury killing two of the creatures. One of which was the one threatening Oz.

As the Ghouls tighten the ring around the three Kapek knows the time has come. With a mighty yell he releases the power of his Drangonmark and the power of it engulfs the group and many of their opponents. The environment of Mabar, dampens the effects somewhat but as well as healing his comrades three of the Ghouls are slain and eleven more are wounded. Kapek steps back to form a line with his two comrades.

With cries for vengeance the Ghouls press the attack with power and speed. Too much speed in the case of the one Lorric trips. Still the gaps in the line of the Ghouls are soon filled with fresh opponents, hungry for blood.

Lorric lays into the wounded Ghouls killing three of them. Ajax kills another one and yet another drops with one of Oz's arrows in his eye, reducing the Ghouls to a mere thirteen !

One of the Ghouls howls and the noise seems to fill the rest with frenzied energy and they hurl themselves at the Fists even more savagely.

Step by bloodstained step Ajax, Kapek and Lorric retreat slowly up the pillar. Narrowing their front so only a few Ghouls can attack them at one time.

Slowly the Ghouls fall, then three in the rear rank break from the melee and start to climb the wall behind, towards Mirra and Oz. Seeing this Mirra retreats back up the stairs towards the sunlight. Oz shoots and then tumbles through them and joins Mirra in fleeing up the stairs.

Ajax, Kapek and Lorric are now facing three enemies in front and three behind. A direly wounded Kapek tumbles through the front line of the Ghouls into the hall and away from the melee. Ajax and Lorric now face one enemy in front and three charging down the pillar from behind them.

The lone frontal attacker is slain by Lorric and one of the new ones by Ajax. Then Kapek opens up with his Force boomerangs slaying the penultimate Ghoul. The last Ghoul seems to throw off the blood lust that had driven his comrades on despite their hideous losses and realises his situation. It attempts to flee and dies.

The Fists collapse to the floor, completely drained by their battle. Eventually they wearily rise, healing is done and the remains of the Ghouls victims searched for loot. There are, of course, no Drow here.

As they recover they wonder why the Ghouls had not attacked the Shunned before. It occurs to them that before the Ghouls would have been scared off by the Bebiliths. As the Crimson Fist had slain the Bebiliths it had freed the Ghouls to slaughter the Shunned and then the Fists had slaughtered the Ghouls. Their interference had resulted in the destruction of every creature in the area.

CHAPTER 4 - Hullath'mir Ergmise - The Waters of Deathly Tears

2011-07-15T22:07:00.008+01:00

With the rising sun your mind clings to the fragments of dream that linger from your drunken slumber.

An altogether alien yet strangely familiar voice echoes through long silent chambers, it speaks a tongue that you do not understand, yet your mind fills with words, images and concepts that make perfect sense.

One voice becomes many as you attune your mind to the cacophonous thoughts that fill this ancient and crumbling structure.

“Xhagevoxhab has returned to his prison my lord, the wanderer without aided the prophesised to the Crown of Blibdoolpoolp. Now he must leave them to follow his own path.”

“What of the second hand bathed in blood? Do they exhibit signs or portents that are relevant to the Prophecy's current course?” comes a regal sounding reply.

“Their part is unclear master. Malsheem has sent many forces, it is feared that the cell that landed in Stormreach are employing Yuggoloths to secure their place in the weaving of this vast web.”

“My master,” comes another voice from the mayhem, “We have reports of cysts opening throughout Droaam spilling hordes of Kaorti into the ranks of Jaerdrael Keep. They bring Skybleeders with them and early reports indicate they plan to move east in search of Kra’T Ymraag Draal. Zul has been gifted with the ‘Ebon Seal’ and has begun creating his undead abominations beneath the circle there, yet there are abominations rising from Khyber to battle him even as we speak.”

“Then Zaphkiel is being sought. How do the tides of battle fare on Shavrath?”

“The celestials are still struggling with the Abyss, my Lord. The denizens of Hell are merely fuelling the fire with political interference. There is no sign of the battle turning.” comes the reply. “Kirx Katech is awaiting the arrival of the prophesised and they are moving to protect the Oboxian Tablets."

Silence falls for a few brief moments.

The Lord's voice begins once more.

“333 are the Atropal Lachryma, the Tears of Atropos that fell to Eberron, all have been retrieved by the Ashen Covenant. Shothragot, the Patient One stirs and the Gilded Man has still not been located, his prison of the Sundered Tower lies somewhere within the roiling shadows of Mabar. The first sign of the Restless Dead is manifesting, there is word of the newly dead rising from their graves across Eberron, and Atropals have been seen falling from the World Born Dead, surrounded by clouds of their scions and the surge of negative energy has drawn dark angels from caverns deep beneath the Thunder Sea. Once the sigils burn in the sky we are all but lost. The time nears with increasing rapidity, we are losing the periphery of our realm, the towers are crumbling and still the child is not safe. We must all persevere and guide lest the battle begin without the pieces in place.”

The Crimson Fists awaken with heads throbbing from strange, visionary dreams (and massive hangovers). Over a quiet breakfast Father Jack informs them he feels his destiny takes him elsewhere. He will travel with them as far as the expedition though.

The treasure recovered from the tomb is examined and divided up. Lorric receives an item which increases his Wisdom and a Ring of Freedom of Movement, Oz takes his old Wisdom item, Kapek receives a magical spear and Ajax a strange Kuo-Toa weapon called a Pincer Staff, a staff with a closable collar on the end. Although imbued with mighty magics Ajax has never used such a weapon before and intends to turn it into ready cash at the first opportunity.

With everybody ready the Fists set off into the jungle with the cheers of the town ringing in their ears.

They travel all day through the blistering jungle heat before setting up camp under the beautiful clear sky and watching the showers of shooting stars that illuminate that night.

The second days journey is as uneventful as the first.

Mol 2nd Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

On the third day they come in sight of a camp flying the banner of House Sivis, they have finally reached the expedition they were hired to protect all those weeks ago. The leader of the guard greets them warmly and takes them to a tent in the centre of the camp. There they are introduced to two gnomes; Professor Melurit the head of the expedition and his scribe Abonwick.

Less welcoming are the two carefully wrapped bodies resting inside the tent. The Professor explains these are the bodies of the last two emissaries he sent to negotiate with the local Drow. Melurit wishes for the Fists first task to be to take their place and speak with the Drow.

It is too late for the Fists to set off now and so they settle down for a meal around the camp-fire while Melurit briefs them on the ruins the expedition is here to explore and the rain clouds that eternally hover over them, turning the land around into a treacherous marsh. (The similarity to the clouds plaguing Sharn is lost on no-one). He also informs the groups that the Drow seem to be particularly hostile because of a prophecy of theirs.

As they talk Melurit spots Kapek's Dragonmark, he calls over the expeditions House Jorasco healer who examines it with great interest. It seems to be a Mark of some power.

Zol 3rd Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

The next morning the Fists set forth to talk to the Drow. Jack is first bid farewell with fond wishes by the group and with his tiger in tow he sets off on his own journey.

To reach the Drow the Fists must descend a cliff, this almost immediately leads to violence as Reaver is set against the idea and prepared to maul anyone who attempts to force him. This requires some persuasion on Kapeks part before Reaver is convinced to allow himself to be secured and lowered down the cliff. Eventually though the group reach the bottom intact. Lorric notices a Drow observing them from concealment and so he sneaks off and creeps up behind the Drow before introducing himself to the startled elf. Pleasantly the Drow is not overtly hostile merely saying if the Fists can reach the leaders of his people they will be allowed to speak to them. The Drow will not interfere, they will just watch.

The group make their slow way through the swamp without incident. Stopping at nightfall to make camp. At 10 o'clock as those on watch are enjoying the sight of another shower of shooting stars, Lorric notices dark shapes rising against the night sky to meet the falling stars.

At 2.00 Oz and Lorric hear wing-beats approaching from the East and feel a strange chill in the night air. Quickly they wake their comrades and as the Crimson Fist arm themselves they see strange spectral figures sheathed in darkness, approaching them. Remembering they are about to give battle in a swamp Ajax uses his sandals to cast Water Walk on everyone.

As the creatures close in a tightening ring on the Fists Lorric simply charges them and slays one. Suddenly a feeling of death and corruption washes over the group, birds drop from the air killed instantly. Heads snap up to see a horrid creature hovering above the group, an Atropal Scion. Before they can react the Fists are blasted with a Cone of Cold by it.

The creatures on the ground are now close enough to be identified as Wraiths, though two appear larger and more impressive and are probably Dread Wraiths. Like a noose the seven creatures move in on the Fists from all sides, while above the wing-beats circle the group.

As the Wraiths reach striking range Kapek unleashes the full power of his Dragonmark and a Mass Heal spell bursts from him. No match for this power the five lesser Wraiths evaporate into nothingness and the two Dread Wraiths stagger under this assault of positive energy. Off balance they are soon finished off by Ajax and Lorric. (While Oz curses the fact they are, yet again, fighting undead).

A second Atropal Scion swoops in from behind and unleashes another Cone of Cold. The first hovers 50 feet above the group letting his aura spread fear and despair into their hearts. The wing-beats descend and at the edge of their vision a strange, rotting creature appears and shuffles towards them.

The second Atropal Scion is hovering 20 feet above the ground, no doubt feeling safe at that height but Ajax is suddenly struck by an idea (a good one for once). Whipping out the Pincer Staff he charges the creature, the Staff is ten feet long and with the arts of the Warshaper Ajax's arms grow longer and suddenly twenty feet is within range. Ajax slams the creature with the Staff twice and then snaps the collar shut around its neck and with a heave of his arms, slams it into the ground. Lorric is on it like a shot and the last thing to go through the creature's mind is Lorric's tankard.

The first Atropal Scion sweeps in and blasts the group with yet another Cone of Cold. As does a third one, this final blast is too much for poor Reaver and it topples to the ground its mighty heart stopped forever.

*Kapek comments

Kapek is consumed by grief and rage, as if a part of his soul has been ripped away. But he feels guilt as well; it took a lot of persuasion to get his agitated mount down the cliff and Kapek now fears that Reaver could sense his coming doom.

The rotting creature continues its ominous advance, the ground and vegetation around it rotting into corruption.

With a scream of rage Kapek unleashes a swarm of Force Boomerangs at Reaver's killer. Ajax charges the first Atropal Scion and again strikes it twice before ensnaring it with the Pincer Staff and slamming it into the ground where Lorric leaps on it and makes short work of it.

*Ajax comments

And to think Ajax was planning to sell this wonderful weapon. If it continues to be this useful he may even learn how to fight with it.

The Rotting creature fixes Ajax and Lorric with its gaze. To his horror Ajax feels his skin start to rot. The creature follows this up with a storm of claw attack and buffets from its wings.

Oz runs over to the sorely wounded Kapek and heals him with his 'Healing Belt' while Kapek continues to pummel Reavers slayer with Force Boomerangs. While Ajax engages the Rotting creature Lorric leaps up and strikes the last Atropal Scion, this and more boomerangs finish the creature.

Ajax meanwhile is in dire trouble, under the rotting creature's relentless assault he is taking wound after wound until only the temporary vitality of his Shifted state is keeping him alive. Just in time Lorric charges the Rotting creature from behind and it diverts its attention to him. Trapped between Lorric and Ajax, it soon falls.

Mirra quickly applies healing magic to the group as all are sorely wounded. All are also aware of the sound of wing-beats receding into the distance.

Healing done all that is left to do is build a pyre for Reaver and send him on his final journey in a suitable manner.

Far 6th Barrakas, 998 Y.K.

The sun rises on another hot and humid day and after prayers the Crimson Fist press on through the swamp. Lorric scouts ahead of the group, using his skills to pass silently and unseen through the undergrowth.

As the journey takes you further east and deeper into the swamp you judge that you have travelled some 70 miles or so and are nearing the centre of the vast and fetid basin. Above and ahead you can see the solitary swirling cloud that perpetually rains, its distance is unperceivable as no other clouds offer any source of perspective. As the sun passes its zenith the jungle around you deepens, shadows grow deeper as the canopy overhead becomes a heavy tangled mass of mosses and lichens. The occasional shaft of light illuminates a struggling patch of ferns here and there offering a faint green luminescence as the light bounces from the fronds.

From somewhere ahead you hear sounds of movement, and catch faint glimpses of the shadows moving. The hot, humid air seems to thicken and every breath has to be forced, your lungs finding little sustenance beneath the dark canopy. Motion crawls over almost every surface that you can see, seemingly a thick carpet in some places merely a few lone scorpions in others, their black chitinous shells shining like gems

Words are uttered from the darkness ahead; although you do not recognise them you are more than aware of the power that they carry.

Ahead you see the shafts of light grow fewer in number and less intense, without the eyes of the drow the darkness grow all but impenetrable smothering you in a veil of utter blackness. The air seems to grow thin as the humidity rises and your head swims as your lungs pant for oxygen.

After travelling for a good portion of the afternoon you see the canopy begin to thin ever so slightly, the light becomes like that of early twilight and you see a dark rocky outcrop ahead. A stream runs from a tunnel at the base of the cliff, and to the left an almost imperceptible set of steps are carved into the rock face where they meet a door some fifty feet above the waters. Perched upon platforms to either side of the door and crouched around the lip of the rock-face you see dark-skinned figures, flashes of white paint adorning their midnight faces.

You soon feel firm ground underfoot and the familiar sound of boots upon rock resounds in your ears as you are led up the stairs.

The door opens and you are led into a natural rock hallway, steps lead up on either side and ahead you can hear the sound of rushing water. The walls are decorated with rough tribal depictions of scorpions and what seem to be large portions of insect carapace, claws and stingers are placed with seemingly religious reverence. In fact as you watch you see several smaller specimens crawl from cracks in the walls.

A pair of imposing figures blocks the way ahead, each bears a chain with dagger-like blades at each end poised and readied to strike.

Spoken in elven.

“At ease”, comes a soft voice from behind them, “Let us listen to what the light-dwellers have to say this time.”

“Yes Mistress” they reply in unison before dropping to one knee to either side of the strikingly beautiful and regal drow.

“Fall before Matron Shi’Na” demands one of you captors in the common tongue, before you are forcefully shoved to the ground.

“Let them speak” come the soft voice from the Matron, “Let the pale ones inform us of why they continue to pollute our lands with their presence, let them tell us why they continue to bring death.”

Turning to facethe group she speaks, this time in common.

“Welcome to the fallen empire of Kerrick Mal’irak, the dead temple-city dedicated to Ouralon, purged by the might of Vulkoor. Speak your purpose.”

Around noon movement is spotted ahead of the group and muttered words of power are heard. The Fists, apart from the hidden Lorric, feel their limbs stiffen into immobility as they are paralyzed where they stand.

Invisible creatures splash through the water towards the Fists and as they strip them of their weapons and gear the magic cloaking them fades and they are revealed as Drow warriors. The Fists are then bound with rope and only then does the Drow leader appear. She instantly recognizes the group is down a member and loudly demands Lorric show himself, unsurprisingly Lorric declines the offer.

The leader turns to the now unparalyzed Fists and informs them they will be taken to the leader of the Drow. The Fists are not pleased by their treatment but decide to co-operate and set off with the Drow and with Lorric trailing them.

*Ajax comments

Ajax knows if he Shifts he could then use his War-Shaper talents to make his arms so thin the ropes would simply fall off. And though the Drow had taken his weapons he would still have his claws, which he prefered anyway. Ajax's aggressive spirit longed to fight back but they were there to negotiate with the Drow not fight them and the Drow seemed to want to take them to their leader. With great effort Ajax muzzled his bloodthirsty nature and accepts he will have to remain bound......... for now.

After some time the Fists and their escort arrive at a hall guarded by more Drow and taken inside. Lorric uses his 'Hat of Disguise' and disguises himself as a Drow and follows his comrades into the building. Inside the hall is decorated with murals depicting scorpions and the stingers and claws of giant scorpions decorate the hall. The Fists are guided to stand before a throne upon which resides the Matron of the Drow of this area.

She is unamused by the fact that one of the Crimson Fists is missing and calls for Celedrus, declaring he will use his True Sight spell to discern if the missing Fist is present.

Celedrus arrives and is set to the task of searching the hall as she interrogates the Fists. The Matron demands to know why the expedition is here and the Fists explain that their goal is to uncover new knowledge. The Matron is suspicious that the troubles that have plagued her realm are the fault of the newly arrived expedition. The Fists declare that they are innocent of this and that the whole world is beset by strange events and the rise of ancient powers. The Matron is convinced enough to propose an accord, she will allow the expedition access to the ruins (under supervision) if the Fists search for a group of her people who have gone missing. Remembering the fate of the previous ambassadors the Fists readily agree.

Then to the Matron's surprise one of her Drow steps forward and joins the Fists in front of the throne. It is Lorric, who has been cunningly keeping other Drow between himself and Celedrus while this was going on, and now a deal is made rejoins the group (to the muttered comment 'show-off' from Ajax). Luckily the Matron seems both impressed and amused by this.

The Matron insists that the Fists find her people before the expedition will be allowed entry and that Celedrus will accompany them as her liaison to the expedition. The Fists find this agreeable and a deal is reached.

Celedrus introduces himself to the Crimson Fists explaining he is a Mystic Theurge and capable of casting both Divine and Arcane spells. He also explains that his background is mostly scholarly and he will require protecting in battle. To drive this point home he also points out he is the Matron's son !

The new group head off discussing their various cultures and the differences inherent in them. They travel for a few hours before stopping for the night.

In the morning Celedrus casts Shadow Walk to transport them more quickly to the area where the Drow went missing. The Fists are plunged into a mysterious realm of whirling shadow in which they travel at breath-taking speed for an hour before plunging with a burst of light into the Material Plane, right into the middle of a lake ! The Fists plunge into the water, only to be instantly shot back to the surface as Ajax uses his sandals to cast Water Walking on the group.

A quick scan of the area reveals they are in a large lake with several islands in it. It also reveals a nearby, yet dilapidated, boat into which some of the Fists climb and which the rest then push to the largest island.

On the shore of the island they find the ground littered with bones. With their senses straining for the signs of danger the group carefully move to search the island. They soon come to a gouge in the earth which ends at a tree, which suddenly lashes out to attack Kapek. It is an Ironmaw, a predatory plant creature that eats anything it can get its vines on.

The creature's vines grab Kapek but then loose when Lorric leaps behind and strikes it a blow that stuns it. The Fists scan the area and see a second, third and fourth Iron Maw approaching. Mira casts Haste and Celedrus casts Fly and heads straight up and out of danger. Ajax leaps on the first Maw and slays it with a storm of blows.

The second creature attacks Ajax, grabbing him with its vines but the hearty Shifter throws off its grip. The other two creatures approach ponderously coming under fire from Kapek's boomerangs as they do. Lorric attacks the second Maw and again stuns it, after which he and Ajax quickly finish it.

Lorric fails to stun the third and fourth Maw but they still fall under the combined assault of the Crimson Fist.

The bones, with Celedrus's permission, are searched for loot then Lorric climbs one of the dead Maws to check the area. He spots some ruins to the north and the Fists decide to investigate there. And so discussing exactly how you stun a plant anyway they move on.

Narwell

2011-05-05T02:01:00.017+01:00

Wir, 25th Lharvion 998 Y.K.

9.00 p.m.

As the Fists approach the town they notice the gates lie open and unguarded. The streets to are empty but Lorric's sharp eyes pick out figures lurking in the nearest pair of alleys and Ajax sharp nose scents blood and fungus coming from four of the alleys.

In a burst of speed Lorric runs up to the nearest alley and addresses the figures there. His enquiries are met with the yell "For the Scarlet Lord!", and the figures attack. Lorric tumbles behind the pair and kills the rear one. The rest of the figures move into the open to attack the Crimson Fists.

One of them spits a gob of red goo at Ajax but he dodges it and attacks him striking his foe to the ground. In the alleyway Lorric's remaining opponent extrudes tentacles from his eyes and they snap at Lorrics face but miss. The creature then flees into the open, straight into Oz's line of fire and is immediately shot.

Kapek charges Reaver into the centre of the creatures and becomes the target of all four of the surviving creatures. He is soon joined by Lorric and Ajax and together they strike their foes down.

Kapek notices that Lorric's foe, struck multiple times by his flurry of blows, is oozing a red liquid that none of the other fallen creatures have. He strikes at the fallen foes with his acid dripping Tangat and all soon ooze the same disturbing red liquid.

As if to prove the wisdom of Kapek's actions the creature Lorric had dropped in the alleys emerges into the street to the rear of the group and attacks an unprepared Mirra with his disturbing eye tentacles. Oz drops it with an arrow and Ajax runs over and gleefully jumps up and down on the creature until little remains.

Observing the strange fungal growths on the bodies of their foes Kapek carefully examines Mirra's wounds, as he feared they are infected with spores of the creatures. He binds the wounds but knows he can do little to stop the infection.

The guides having delivered the Fists as far as they had been contracted to, bid them a hasty farewell and depart as fast as they can due to news that this frontier town is the target of many drow assaults and as a result they don't want to face Narwell's inhabitants.

Alone again the Fists carefully head deeper into the town. They soon find a band of survivors holed up in a house. They are briefed by Captain Timane of the town watch on the fall of the town to the strange fungus zombies that they themselves just fought. They are also told the creatures are very resistant to weapons, healing quickly from all wounds but electricity, the Fists are able to inform the Captain that acid also works this way. A cleric is summoned and he provides a potion to rid Mirra of the infection in her wounds.

The Captain asks the Fists to enter the Well from which the fungus came and destroy the source of the infection. To help them he introduces the Fists to a Druid called Jack, a tall, weathered, bearded man dressed only in a loincloth and carrying only a staff and accompanied by a tiger. Jack seems a good soul, determined to help those who cannot defend themselves and, well aware of their lack of magic, the Fists quickly agree to let him come with them.

The Fists agree to enter the sewers and are gifted with five potions of Remove Disease and four of Lesser Restoration. As they will have to enter the Well Jack is forced to leave his tiger behind and Kapek similarly leaves behind Reaver. Each informing their animal friend to be good and not eat anybody.

The group slipped quietly through the town to the Well but as they expected the Well is guarded. Spotting the ambush the group have time to cast some preparatory spells before charging into battle. Lorric and Ajax engage the enemy in melee, while Oz and Kapek pour missile fire into them. Mirra entones tales of heroism to inspire her comrades and Jack pins three of the enemy with an Entangle spell.

Suddenly a scream from their rear indicates their foes have snuck up on the rear of the group and attacked Mirra and Jack. Kapek turns to cover the rear while Lorric and Ajax hold the front line. Jack turns on his foes and his features melt into the that of a snarling tiger, he leaps on the unfortunate foe and rends them with fang and claw.

The creatures heal swiftly but Kapek's acid dripping Tangat and Ajax's lightning charged sword cut them down. Lorric compensates for not having either by hitting the creatures twice as often.

With their foes dead and the unlucky Mirra healed again the group examine the Well. Ajax climbs down to reconnoitre. The water fills the space completely, without water breathing spells they cannot go on. They have no choice but to retreat to cover until dawn when Jack can pray for such spells.

Zor, 26th Lharvion 998 Y.K.

6.30 a.m.

Come the daylight, which the Fists had been informed rendered the fungus zombies dormant, the group headed for the Well passing survivors of the town as they hurriedly went about their business while the sunlight lasts. Reaching the Well a rope is quickly secured and Jack casts Water Breathing. It is unfortunately only then that it occurs to everyone what being underwater will do to Mirra and Oz's abilities and it is decided to temporarily leave them behind as the rest of the group scout ahead.

A few preparatory spells are cast and the Crimson Fists descend into the water with Ajax in the lead. The water is obviously, and disturbingly, red with the fungus. The Fists swim through a underwater entrance and travel 270 feet down the tunnel until it widens out into a cavern with dry land leading deeper into the darkness. Lorric swims swiftly back and collects Mirra and Oz.

The Fists climb onto the land and with Oz in the lead, to spot traps, head down the tunnel. The tunnel soon leads into a cave inhabited by three human figures but covered in the all to familiar red fungus. The battle is swift and one-sided as the fungus zombies are little challenge to the Fists now they know their weaknesses. Only when the battle is over is it noticed the creatures wore the tabards of the town guard. The Fists are aware the guards were already gone but still none feel good about this victory.

The Fists move on, soon coming to a huge cavern. Here Ajax's nose picks out the scent of ozone and something reptilian. Although the thought of Blue Dragons leaps to the forefront of everyone's minds Kapek identifies the tracks he finds as belonging to a Behir. Indeed one of the creatures immediately creeps down a side wall in all its colossal glory. Lorric tries to converse with it but it soon becomes obvious the creature's only interest in the Fists is as a meal. When a second Behir appears inquiring if dinner has arrived the decision is made. Mirra casts Haste and combat ensues.

With speed boosted by the Haste, and already pretty damn fast, Ajax and Lorric blur across the cavern. Lorric sweeps behind the Behir and attacks its rear. Ajax charges across the cavern straight at the Behir, as he goes he activates the 'Braid of Dire Shifting' gifted to him by Clian and as he Shifts he grows in size until he slams into the Behir in a blur of claws. Kapek opens up with a swarm of Force Boomerangs and the Behir drops dead before it even had a chance to fight back.

On the other side of the cavern Oz opens fire on the other Behir, hitting it but unconcerned it surges forward and with a snap of its head, swallows him whole. Ajax and Lorric charge the creature in its flank and it lasts no longer than its mate. The other Fists quickly slit open its stomach and haul the unfortunate Oz out.

*Ajax comments
Even Ajax wouldn't take ears from creatures infected with the fungus so the Behirs grant him an opportunity to gather trophies from this adventure at last.

By a blackened stalactite Oz spots a loose boulder that requires every last bit of the Fists strength to move. But revealed underneath it is the Behir's treasure. Which is quickly gathered up.

Moving West the Fists eventually reach a underground river,along the bank of which are giant mushrooms that are recognized as Shriekers. True to their name they began to shriek but are soon destroyed but all are aware they will have attracted every hostile creature in the area.

In the sudden quiet, heavy footsteps are heard behind them. The Fists take positions and a Digester covered in the fungus, stomps into view. It endures a hail of arrows and boomerangs as it charges in, in return it spits acid at the group but all dodge. Suddenly a clawed hand strikes out from the wall at Mirra. A creature pulls itself out of the wall, a Xorn.

Jack transforms himself into a polar bear and attacks the Xorn, hurting it but failing to grapple it, in return it pounds hell out of Mirra. Kapek finishes the Digester and the Crimson Fist form a ring around the Xorn. It is highly resistant to their attacks and lashes out hurting Jack but eventually the sheer number of attacks brings it down.

As Mirra and Jack heal up, Ajax carefully cuts out the Digester's acid gland and decants the contents into a flask to create an improvised acid bomb. The Fists decide to head back down the tunnel the Digester had come from. As they go Kapek uses his acid dripping Tangat to burn away the fungus.
Soon tracks are noticed. Jack, Ajax and Kapek examine them carefully and deduce that they were formed by a Digester, a Gray Render and some large giant humanoid they can't quite fully identify. As they press forward the fungus seems to grow thicker than ever. As the tunnel opens into a cave the Fists spot inside four Chuul devouring some poor creature and two Ettins standing idly by them.
The Fists try to approach quietly but the Chuuls ears are sharp. One hears the footfalls and slaps the ground alerting his comrades and they charge straight at the intruders.
Ajax and Lorric quickly stand shoulder to shoulder to fill the corridor while the rest of the group gather behind them. Oz and Kapek open fire with arrows and boomerangs respectively and Mirra begins to orate tales of glory to inspire her comrades. Jack intones in a strange Druidic tongue and a line of destruction is scored across the cavern and through four of their foes as he casts Junglerazer.
The first Chuul reaches the Fists but is swiftly dispatched by Ajax and Lorric, who in return endure a hail of javelins from the Ettins. The second Chuul stops fifteen feet from the front line of the Fists and tentacles shoot out of his eyes and attack Lorric, attempting to insert spores into him.
Out ranged the Fists back into the tunnel in formation hoping to draw the Chuul after them into the narrow space (and for them to get away from the spores raised up by the fight). One of the Chuul obligingly follows them into the tunnel, his eye tentacles rake Ajax infecting him with the spores and sapping his vitality. Ajax tumbles forward and engages this Chuul, noticing as he does so the rest of the creatures slipping into a side tunnel. This Chuul soon falls with two of Oz's arrows transfixing his throat.
Cautiously the Fists move up to the cavern entrance but only one of the Chull is in sight. Ajax charges it, noticing as he passes the side tunnel the three missing foes and two new ones, two Destrachan.
Lorric joins Ajax and with ranged support from Kapek they kill their foe. The creatures in the side tunnel charge in, two attacking Lorric and Ajax. The other three heading for the rest of the Fists but are intercepted by Jack, who has Wild- Shaped into a Polar Bear.
Ajax and Lorric nimbly tumble away from their foes and charge into the rear of the creatures advancing on their comrades. Jack unleashes an Arc of Lightning on their foes and one of the Destrachan replies with a sonic burst.
Constantly keeping on the move Ajax and Lorric fall back again, charging again into the rear of their foes. Kapek charges the last Destrachan, unfortunately straight into a sonic burst!
Ajax and Lorric coming from one direction and Kapek coming from the other, have now meet up. They form a new fighting line facing off against an opponent each. Behind them Mirra chants tales of glory and Oz pounds the foes with a stream of arrows.
Finally backed into a corner the Fists face the Ettins who, not distracted by having to keep up with their elusive enemies, unleash a blizzard of attacks with their twin morningstars. Lorric takes the worst of it, sustaining heavy wounds but Jack charges in to rescue him and grapples the Ettin, simultaneously Ajax slays his opponent and Kapek wounds his deeply.
As Lorric retreats back to Mirra to be healed, Oz's arrows put down another Ettin. Lorric and Ajax close in on the last Ettin, firmly held by Jack, and finish him.

*Ajax comments

Tactically speaking Ajax is very happy with how the battle went. Their hit-and-run tactics kept the enemies off-gaurd and meant that the Ettins were constantly forced to chase them around the battlefield, never getting into a comfortable rythmn. Indeed the whirlwind of death the Ettins became with their two morning-stars in the short space they weren't forced to pursue the group showed this was definitely the best choice!
Personally Ajax was a bit horrified by how weaker he was when he didn't Shift. He knew instinctively he had only enough spiritual energy to Shift once more that day and wished to save it for the confrontation with whatever entity was behind this affair but fighting foes of this calibre without Shifting was a dicey business.

After the customary looting, the Fist continue along the tunnel. Lorric and Oz, scouting ahead, reach a junction and, hearing nothing from the left, choose to follow the right hand passage. This ends in a truly massive cavern, thickly carpeted with red fungus in most places. A domed building can be seen a little way in, looking out over the shores of a vast lake. Lorric can hear lumbering sounds coming from out of sight and carefully sneaks in to take a discreet look.
He sees two huge Grey Renders lurking in a large alcove, seemingly trapped by a similarly impressive Black Pudding, which is voraciously feeding on the clumps of red fungus around them. Using Mirra’s Message spell he confers with the others, coming to the conclusion that the Black Pudding should be left alone for the moment as it might turn on the Renders should the opportunity arise.
Lorric then initiates the combat by using his newly acquired Hammersphere to unleash a mighty spiritual hammer upon one of the Renders. With Father Jack’s acquiescence, Kapek leaps up onto his shoulders and rides forth into battle atop a new polar bear druid mount. The others also enter, and much to everyone’s disappointment the Black Pudding abandons its meal and moves towards the newcomers.
Kapek unleashes a hail of boomerangs at the pudding as it approaches, and Jack balls up his huge polar bear claws into fists in order to throw a sequence of punches at it. A slimy black pseudopod lashes out at the halfling, hitting him hard but Kapek manages to avoid most of the acid and his Freedom of Movement spell prevents the tentacle from getting a grip on him. The voice of Mirra can be clearly heard, exhorting her comrades to heroism.
The Renders are looking for the tormentor behind the spiritual hammer, but Lorric is, as usual, nowhere to be seen. Suddenly he bursts from cover, neatly running past them to join in the attack on the pudding. Ajax attacks one of the Renders with his usual enthusiasm, but is interrupted by the black pudding as it wraps a slimy acid tentacle around him. He is dragged away to be swallowed up in its loathsome black mass.
Robbed of a target, the two Renders close in on the other fight, and attack Kapek. The halfling is bloodily beaten by them, and chooses to dismount on the far side of Jack, whose blows finally bring down the pudding. It dissolves away, leaving Ajax standing in the stinking mess wearing only his chain shirt, horned helmet, and boots. The creature’s acid has destroyed all but the irate shifter’s magical gear.

*Ajax comments
A sight to terrify the most fearsome foe.

Jack then attacks one of the Renders, and is joined by Lorric who finished it off. The other Render claws at Jack, opening some nasty wounds, then clamps its jaws around Ajax. The shifter is pinned, helplessly for a moment as the creature’s teeth tear at his flesh, but then with a roar of primal rage he breaks free. Kapek and Jack rain down blows upon it, but it is the maddened Ajax who finally kills it. Mirra ceases her inspirational saga and the room falls silent again.

There follows some discussion about what to do next. Ajax wishes to stop here and rest, but Kapek feels that if they are to rest, they should return to a more secure area. Lorric wishes to push on a little. Eventually it is decided to use the scouts to check out the domed building ahead.
Lorric and Oz ascend the stairs, which are free of the scarlet rust, and reach an ornate archway surrounded by strange sigils. Mirra is asked to interpret them, and she makes a brave attempt, but there are many obscure languages represented here. Some phrases can be understood, “Crown of Blibdoolpoolp”, “Scarlet Lord”, and it also seems that this place was once a monastery. She believes the messages to be several decades old.
Once Mirra has checked the archway for magical resonances, Lorric and Oz go through. The room beyond is again free of fungal contamination, and is covered with murals depicting a woman with lobster claws and head. Lorric suspects this to be a meditation chamber for the monks.
It commands a good view of the lake, from which the omnipresent red glow seems to be emanating, and of a large city on the lakeshore some distance away. Use of the spyglass confirms that the city is covered with the fungus. Although occasional movement is sighted, the current occupants cannot be seen. The group decide to settle in here for the day.
Mirra examines some recent etchings more carefully, discerning some odd and possibly unrelated facts:
She believes that the group are looking at the city of J’Bhulgolboth, which was recently attacked by a strong force of drow. This attack weakened the city to the point where it could not resist the rise of the scarlet rust.
The Crown of Blibdoolpoolp mentioned earlier is apparently the city temple.
The lower vaults can be accessed through the River of the Dead, which starts in the uppermost chambers.
The Sifkhu tablets are held in the Reliquary, in a massive submerged canyon.
The gnome hopes that the significance of these snippets of information will become clear later.

Zor, 26th Lharvion 998 Y.K.
7.30 a.m.

With the arrival of a new day, the refreshed Crimson Fist set off for the city. Kapek suggests walking across the layer of fungus covering the lake, and after a few cautious tests it is discovered that this is practical. During the slow and cautious walk across the lake, several of the group notice dark forms circling in the water below them. Although this does not add to the group’s piece of mind, the dark forms do not attack. On arriving at the city shoreline, the group pause and use one of their precious Remove Disease potions to help Oz who, despite the precautions taken, has become infested with red spores.
The city itself consists of a series of islands. The southernmost island is surrounded by a fifteen foot high wall, beyond which the roofs of great buildings can be seen. However it is one of the northern islands that supports a building that seems likely to be the Crown, and so the Fist make their way towards it. They pass a large pyramid on the way, and briefly take a look at it, concluding that it was probably an arena or coliseum.

Their destination is a large building with five porticos spaced evenly around it, each containing a copper statue of the lobster-woman. When the group enter one of these, some of them hear a faint voice whispering words they do not understand. Mirra identifies the language as that of the etchings, but can do no more. Once Oz has certified the entrance as safe, he and Lorric enter.
They emerge onto a small semicircular platform. In the centre of the building is a raised platform, separated from the five entranceways by a large moat. Steps lead up from the water to the platform opposite each entrance and there are five more statues of the lobster woman spaced around it. The room is dominated by a column of water reaching from the platform up to the roof. After some more discussion, Lorric decides to swim across.
As soon as he entered the water, the statues revolve to face him and lower their arms to point at him. Lightning arcs from them towards him, but the agile monk easily gets out of the way. The ghostly figure of a Kua-Toa appears and, uttering arcane phrases, causes a great chill to afflict Oz. Battle is joined.
Kapek hurls boomerangs at the figure as it vanishes, but only catches it with one. Lorric leaps across to the main platform and is promptly clawed at by the statue he lands next to. The ghost reappears next to Oz and with words of blasphemous power reaches out and stops his heart. The unfortunate elf drops dead to the ground. More ghosts appear, one attacking Lorric with the same intent. Fortunately the monk is not so easily felled and avoids the touch. Another ghost lets loose a horrifying moan, but its effects are countered by the cheering sound of Mirra’s voice as she begins her exhortations.

The furious Ajax rushes onto the small platform and promptly slays the two ghosts there with his massive claws. Kapek launches another salvo of boomerangs but fails to connect. Lorric slays his foe, as another ghost appears and throws a Sound Lance into Ajax. Kapek hurls more boomerangs at the new arrival and this time his aim is true, the creature is slain.
This seems to be the last of them. Ajax jumps across to the centre, only to be zapped and clawed. He then shatters the offending statue. With the fight clearly over, the group makes its way across to join Ajax and Lorric. The body of Oz is also brought, the Fist looking sadly at the body of another dead comrade. They then remember the scroll that they found earlier. Mirra sits down to figure out the unfamiliar divine runes and eventually is able to intone the holy words that bring their fallen friend back from the grave.

Like Ajax before him, Oz is deeply shaken by his experience of the afterlife and the consoling philosophy of Father Jack does nothing to lift his spirits.

As the Crimson Fists gather their breath a strange thing occurs. From out of nowhere flowing blue tattoos appear on Kapek's body and neck. They appear to be a Dragonmark! This is a subject of much wonder and conversation among the group (and not a little sarcasm from Ajax, who, as a Shifter, cannot be Dragonmarked).
The Fists then head up the stairs to the next level of the temple, where there is a statue of Blibdoolpoolp. Corridors behind it curve round to the right and left and the wall behind it contains many doors. Lorric tumbles behind the statue and his caution is instantly shown to be wise as it turns to attack him. The rest of the group pile on the statue and Ajax discovers to his horror that the electricity of his sword heals the creature rather than harming it. The creature ungratefully breathes a cloud of poison gas on him and then clumsily lumbers after Lorric, its lobster claws snapping together in anticipation of getting them into its foe. Even with Mirra's bardic talents the blows of the Fists barely scratch its metal frame but by sheer weight of blows it is finally brought down.

With Oz taking the lead to check for traps the Fists check the doors on the outside circumference of this circular floor. Each leads to a bare cell with two pools of water. One of the doors on the inner circumference leads to a room with a coral lectern and a larger pool of water. As Oz enters this room a strange force seizes him and hurls him into the water. As he is recovering from this shock three Kua-Toa ghosts appear and hurl lightning bolts at the unfortunate elf. They follow up with a chilling wail that leads the Fists completely unimpressed. The Kua-Toa then fade into invisibility.
One ghost appears next to Kapek and attempts to possess him but is thrown off by the Halflings iron willpower. Lorric and Ajax feel chill touches and lash out against their invisible foes. Mirra's blood runs cold as she recognizes the words to Slay Living. Despite their invisibility the ghosts are shown to be able to hand it out but not take it and are quickly dispatched.
Remembering their mission the Crimson Fists give up on searching ever room and head up to the next floor. The stairs end on this level although the column of water rises on upward. The stairs lead out onto a a large room, straight in front of the group are seven raised pools and behind them are a pair of copper doors. At the far wall is a corridor leading off to the left. There are doors on either side of the room.
As Ajax enters the room a Kua-Toa ghost attempts to cast Slay Living on him. More-or-less simultaneously a second ghost attempts to possess Oz, a third hits Ajax with yet another Slay Living, a fourth panics Jack with a ghostly wail and a fifth hits Lorric with a Sound Lance. Battle is well and truly joined!
The Crimson Fists endure a barrage of Slay Livings and Inflict Criticals but send their foes to their final rest.
The left-hand door reveals a room with several ring shaped pools and stairs leading upward. The walls are lined with religious texts. The stairs lead to the topmost room. It contains a pool of eerily glowing water, three stone slabs and two familiar looking statues of the goddess Blibdoolpoolp, two doors are at the rear of the room.
Without wasting a second Ajax simply attacks the statues which, to nobody's surprise, attack back but are dealt with with brutal efficiency.

With the statues dealt with the Fists decide to return to the floor below to explore a room which seemed to be a library. Ajax examines the pools and Mirra examines the books and Jack turns into an octopus and stretches out in one of the pools. Mirra discovers one of the books makes reference to 'The Scarlet Lord'. It tells how in ages pass the Scarlet Lord was defeated by a mighty cleric, Sifkhu, and imprisoned in magical chains at the bottom of the lake. Decades ago the Scarlet Lord partially escaped but was held at bay by spells that had been inscribed on stone tablets by Sifkhu. The books also made reference to strange scaled robes that the priests had worn to protect themselves when they went into the lake. The pools simply seem to be comfortable places to sit while reading the books.
The Fists move on to the copper doors, with Jack maintaining his octopus form to some of the groups disquiet. Oz realize the doors are trapped with a magical lightning trap and skillfully disarms it by earthing the power into one of the pools. The doors lead out onto a balcony that looks out on the ruined city and the lake.
With Oz in the lead the Fists move along the curve of this floor, exploring room by room. The first room has nothing but a statue of a Kua-Toa in it (which amazingly doesn't attack them). The next room contains various work-tables at which craftsman had once worked. Oz discovers a secret door but it just leads into the library. The final room appears to be a study of some sort. It contains a desk with a hidden compartment which holds five scrolls (One each of Cure Moderate, Cure Serious, Lesser Restoration, Remove Curse and Remove Disease.)
With this level fully explored the Crimson Fists head back up to the next floor. The first door here opens onto a large room. One half of the room is full of water apart from a small corner against the far wall on which rests a small cabinet. The other half of the room is dry and contains a wide-selection of torture instruments. As the Fists enter they notice a dark shape moving sluggishly at the bottom of the water.
Ajax moves to the edge of the water and the creature surges towards him as the stone under Ajax's feet suddenly softens. Ajax quickly leaps back before he is dropped into the water. The creature surges from the water and is recognized by the Fists from an old battle, it is a Gibbering Mouther. Its insane cries begin to bore into the brains of the Fists but Mirra bursts into song, counter-acting its power. The creature spits acid and charges.... straight onto the weapons of the Crimson Fists. Its demise is quick and messy !
Jack, still in octopus form, slips easily into the pool and then picks up Oz in his tentacles and lifts him over to the cabinet. Oz quickly discovers the cabinet is trapped by triggering it and getting a face full of gas. He quickly opens the lock and reveals six scaled robes which he grabs. Jack lifts him back to the rest of the group where Mirra quickly treats him before the poison gas does any more damage.
The next room is full of religious statuettes.
The third is an armoury, half of which is a pool of filmy water. As Ajax enters he hears chanted words and is wracked by pain as his body tries to rip itself apart. He dives out of the room and slams the door. There is a seconds respite then the voice intones again and a deathly chill grips Lorric. Lorric turns on his heel and lashes out at where he thinks the voice is coming from. He feels one blow land and the rest of the Fists join him in striking at this area, bringing an end to the ghost in a storm of blows.
The danger past Mirra examines the weapons and divines that two of them are magical. These weapons, a trident and a net are quickly grabbed by the group.
The floor completely explored, Lorric offers to try out the cloaks to see if they enable the wearer to breath under water. He dives under water and takes a deep breath, luckily the cloaks work. However as they also seem rather fragile Jack casts Water Breathing on the Fists as well.
The Fists enter the column of water and swim down into the blackness. Realising what this means Ajax gestures that they should go up. When the group emerges into the air Ajax casts Embrace the Wild on each of them from his wand

At the bottom of the column are four corridors each full of water and leading off into the blackness. In the twisting corridors beyond they find rooms where the city's dead would be placed. In some the dead remain but sensing the Fists rise from their biers to attack them but are easily dealt with even though they greatly out-number the group.
Four of the rooms have walls carved with runes that crackle with electricity, though deciding this may power the city's defences against the fungus the Fists leave them alone.
After checking dozens of rooms the Fists finally come to one with a hole in the floor that leads down into even deeper darkness.
Moving on to the final room the Fists find it full of a flickering blue light. Behind a wall there are square shapes. As they pass into the room they enter a dry area. It contains a statue of Bliddoolpoop and a necromantic laboratory. Suddenly a beam of green light lashes out of the darkness at Ajax...but somehow misses. The Fists leap on the Kua-Toa ghost which had cast this and send him to his final rest. In the room Oz discovers a hidden panel, the lock is complex but Oz eventually cracks it revealing a cache of black onyx gems.
With every room explored there is now only one way to go.

Taking a deep, and totally unnecessary, breath the Fists dive into the hole, down into the darkness beneath. Gradually the water pressure increases, making the group grateful for the Cloaks of the Deep which protect them from this. After 500 feet a faint green light become visible and the Fists emerge into a huge underwater cavern, littered with columns of crystal glowing with an eerie green light. On the wall nearest where they emerged are carved strange glyphs. Mirra examines them and decides they would create an area of non-detection.
As the Fists swim slowly into the cavern, Lorric notices a strange swirling in the water. As everybody approaches it, it starts to move towards them. Lorric and Ajax charge it, Ajax only just avoiding ripping his cloak on the crystal columns that litter the cavern. The Water Elemental, as the Fists are now sure it is, takes blows that seem to have little effect then it spins furiously creating a whirlpool that sucks Ajax into the centre of it and whirls across the cavern dashing Ajax against every available column as it goes. Only by desperately twisting so his body takes the blows does Ajax avoid having his fragile 'Cloak of the Deep' destroyed. Ajax Shifts and tears into the elemental that has captured him and in response it spits him out and charges over and sweeps up Oz and does the same thing to him.

The Elemental proves a frustrating foe, able to sweep past the Fists without taking harm and out-pace all of them but Lorric with ease. Time and again it sweeps up one of them to dash him against the crystals. Only after much effort are the Fists able to finally corner the elemental and Jack, in octopus form, finally beats it to death with his tentacles.
Suddenly Kapek's Dragonmark tattoo glows with light and a massive burst of healing magic bursts from him to fully heal all his wounded comrades. Though after the tattoo seem strangely dull in colour compared to how it looked before.
After some rather confused debate, due to the fact that no-one can speak underwater, the Crimson Fists decide to pull back to the necromantic laboratory to rest until the next day.
The rest of the day passes in peace.

Far, 27th Lharvion 998 Y.K.

7.30 a.m.

At dawn, which the Fists could tell when it arrived as Kapek's Dragonmark begins to regain its former vibrancy, they pray and then set forth to continue their quest, descending into the cavern again.
The cavern leads out onto a pit that plunges ever deeper into the unknown depths of the lake. Across the other side of the pit lies a artificial passage carved into the wall. Taking a closer look the Fists discover the passage is lined with alcoves, each one containing a 20 foot high statue of Blibdoolpoolp.
Much careful checking of the statues is done before the Fists are reasonably convinced they aren't going to try to kill them and move along the passage. They pass twenty-four statues before reaching a pair of crystal doors.
The doors open at the merest touch revealing a membrane of water filling the entrance. Piercing the membrane leads the Fists into a air-filled room. In the centre of the room lie four bodies, blasted and burned by some unknown force. Oz discovers a hidden door that leads through to a room where the floor flickers with green fire and a massive statue of Blibdoolpoolp dominates the room.
A Kua-Toa ghost appears, but encouraged by the fact that it appeared rather than trying to kill them while invisible, the Fists restrain their jumpy nerves and try to communicate with it. Somewhat to their surprise the ghost converses with them in Common. He introduces himself as Gorrkulabuk, a cleric of Blibdoolpoolp. After the Fists explain that they are here to recover the tablets of Sifkhu so they can drive back the Scarlet Lord he offers to show them were they are hidden and to deactivate the traps and wards that guard them. However he has a condition, he wants to possess one of them so he may know the truth of what they say. Unsurprisingly this is a matter of some debate with most of the Fists finding good reasons it shouldn't be them. Eventually Oz reluctantly volunteers and the spirit flows into him.
Oz/Gorrkulabuk opens a trap-door and leads the Fists down into a underground room. A room there contains five stone tablets rippling with green fire but Gorrkulabuk explains they are merely a decoy. He then opens a secret door to reveal a small room containing a sarcophagus. With some effort the heavy lid of the sarcophagus is finally slid off to reveal five tablets carved from green marble. (Though none of the Fists miss the other treasure glistening at the bottom of the sarcophagus).
Gorrkulabuk explains that if the proper incantations are read from the tablets the spells holding the Scarlet Lord in place will be renewed for another seven years. The problem is that the chains must be in sight when this is done and the Scarlet Lord is underwater and none of the Fists can intone the words underwater. Gorrkulabuk does offer another choice, the tablets contain a passage that will neutralise the chains. Then when the Scarlet Lord rises the other enchantment can be cast on the chains. In order to contain the Scarlet Lord the Crimson Fists must first free it!
No matter what the Fists decide they have learned all they can down here. They thank Gorkkalabuk who escorts them to the crystal doors and then leaves Oz's body and floats back into the temple.
The Fists make their way back to the balcony that overlooks the city and the lake and there begin the debate as to what they should do. Ajax and Mirra are in favour of releasing the Scarlet Lord in order to then perform the ritual, Kapek and Lorric against, Oz and Jack uncertain. The debate goes back and forth but eventually Jack decides with Ajax and Mirra and a decision is reached.

*Ajax comments
Ajax genuinely feels that the longer they leave the problem the stronger the Scarlet Lord will get. That they have no way of knowing who they can trust to use the tablets and that even if they could find such people the Scarlet Lord will break free before they can bring them to the lake. He genuinely feels all this is true but what he mostly feels is he REALLY wants to fight a god.

*Kapek comments
After the fiasco at Olman Isle and the group's manipulation by the aboleth, Kapek is extremely cautious about releasing - even temporarily - another of these abominations.

A decision made, plans are formed. Jack will Wild-Shape into a pegasus and carry an invisible Mirra who will be using the tablets. Oz, Kapek, Lorric and Ajax will remain on the balcony to engage the Scarlet Lord and distract it for long enough for Mirra to cast the ritual, which she expects will take her about a minute.
As ready as they're ever going to be, Mirra casts the ritual to neutralize the chains binding the Scarlet Lord. The second she finishes, she hurriedly casts Haste and then sings to inspire her comrades as the lake bubbles ominously as something huge and foul rises from its depths.
Mirra has only just finished when a huge creature resembling a giant, red worm fringed with tentacles emerges from the lake and begins to advance on the four on the balcony. Mirra begins the ritual and her comrades open up with a hail of arrows, force boomerangs and shot. Which barely scratch the monstrous creatures hide. Seeing this Oz pulls back to behind the other three ready to spring forward and use his Healing Belt on any mortally wounded comrade.
Precious seconds pass as the creature oozes to the base of the tower and then up to the balcony but thirty seconds still remain when the Crimson Fists stationed there come face-to-face with the Scarlet lord. With claw, tankard and tangat they attack it and it replies with teeth and tentacle. Its teeth do terrible damage and its tentacles grasp at everyone but due to the Freedom of Movement spells cast on them have no purchase.

*Oz comments
Which as Oz is the only one of the four without a Freedom of Movement cast on him makes him even more sure that he had the right idea when he withdrew behind the others.

The seconds tick by with mighty blows given and taken until suddenly Mirra's voice reaches a triumphant climax and the chains draping the Scarlet Lord burst into dazzling green fire. With ear-shattering cries the abomination is dragged back into the dark waters of the lake and disappears beneath its surface.
Yells of triumph echo around the empty city as the fungus fades from the lake and one by one the fungus zombies slump dead in the streets. With glad cries the ghostly shapes of Kua-Toa rise from the city and vanish as their spirits are freed to move on. All that is left is for the Fists to nip back to the underwater temple and loot the sarcophagus and then they begin the journey back to the sunlight.

When they emerge into the light (which instantly disintegrates the Cloaks of the Deep of those Fists who hadn't packed them in a extra-dimensional space) the people of the city above have already begun to clear up the mess and the Fists are greeted as heroes. They retire to the inn where the celebrations can begin and Mirra can tell the story of their glorious deeds (although she leaves out the bit that the chains will begin to fade again in seven years).
Later the Fists take the Captain of the City Guards to one side and explain the truth to him. He requests the tablets so the city can be prepared next time and the Fists give them to him. He generously rewards the group with gems, though Jack true to his Vow of Poverty gifts his to the local priest to aid in the rebuilding.

"Lord of the Scarlet Tide",

Dungeon Magazine 85. Written by James Jacobs

Welcome to the Jungle

2011-04-20T00:14:00.013+01:00

Far, 20th Lharvion 998 Y.K.

The next morning after prayers Sparky casts True Seeing in the hope that if the Librarian is part of the crew he will be able to see him for what he truely is. The crew seem all as they should be but he does observe two strange creatures observing them from the Ethereal Plane. When the creatures notice Sparky watching them they disappear away without a word.

The Fists decide to first visit the Brelish ambassador but as they disembark the Southern Sun they are approached by a young boy bearing a message. The message is from Malketh asking Lorric if he will fight tonight, to which Lorric gives an evasive answer. Wide-eyed with hero worship the boy asks Lorric for an autograph. Then, clutching it reverently, he heads off telling anybody who will listen that that was Lorric who will be fighting the Champion tonight. As the Fists head on they hear the rumour spreading behind them.

The deal with the Ambassador goes smoothly with the map being exchanged for the promised 10,000 gold in cash and a 50,000 letter of credit. With the money nestling comfortably in their pockets the Fists head to the 'Citadel of the Twelve' in the hope of finding their employer Professor Melurit. They are quickly taken to a Lady Mordwyn d Sivis, an elderly female gnome. She informs them that they are late and the Professor has left ahead of them but had left behind the names of some trustworthy guides, G'elding Phyxlaunth and Tathrysn Quelnar, two dark elves who could be found at The Ship's Cat.

The Fists return to the Southern Sun and speak to Captain Nose-Chewer, who informs them that Sszyl Zszton was offering 35,000 gold for the Siren's Teat. They discuss the matter with the Captain and decide to accept the offer. (Though they realize after the Harbour Master and The Bilge Rats get their cut they'll be getting 30,000). The papers are quickly drawn up and signed and the money split between the Crimson Fist and Captain Nose-Chewer and his crew.

While the papers are being drawn up Lorric arranges for posters to be placed around town advertising a fight between him and the Champion, to take place in four months time. He also dispatches a note to Malketh explaining that he cannot fight the Champion until he has discharged his obligation to guard the expedition.

Then to The Ship's Cat where they find their guides and make arrangements to leave that very evening. Although due to the thick jungle canopy Kapek decides to leave Hurricane behind and arranges stabling for his beast with House Vadalis.

That done and final supplies bought the Crimson Fist and their guides depart the city. They only get a couple of hours out of town before night falls and they make camp. As they settle in Lorric receives a Sending from Malketh telling him to return or be forcibly brought back.

10.00 p.m.

On the first watch Kapek sees a shimmering appear in front of them that resolves into a portal leading to a stone room which contains two Giants, Malketh, the Champion and a robed figure. (Sparky breaks into a cold sweat at the thought of how powerful the Caster who created this portal must be). Malketh asks if Lorric will return to fight in the arena, Lorric declares he must fulfill his other contract first. Meanwhile Mirra and Sparky fail miserably to Dispel the Teleportation Circle.

Suddenly four creatures, that Ajax identifies as Quaraphons, wearing breast plates and carrying great clubs swarm out of the room into the forest. Lorric uses his Necklace of Fireballs to launch a fireball at the creatures but it detonates on a Wall of Force that lies between them and the Crimson Fists. The two Giants follow the Quaraphons out of the portal. The Crimson Fists guides flee into the night to no complaints as they were hired to guide, not fight.

Oz, situated on the right flank of the group just past the edge of the Wall of Force, opens fire on the enemy drawing three of them away to attack him. Seeing this he pulls back towards the rest of the group firing as he goes.

Mirra, alone on the left flank and behind the Force Wall casts Glitter Dust on the remaining enemies but finds it immediately dispelled. She quickly hides and before she can be discovered Lorric, Kapek and Ajax round the Wall of Force and dive into the enemy threatening her. Sparky, cursing his encumbering plate mail, casts Fly on himself and soon catches up with his comrades.

Mirra inspires with tales of heroics as Ajax, Kapek and Lorric engage the foe with many a powerful blow both given and recieved (though more given) and Sparky hovers behind them applying healing magic as needed. The three creatures that had persued Oz realize their mistake and run back to the main fight but arrive too late and too spread out to really help. The fight is going well for the Crimson Fist but all wonder when the Champion and the robed spell caster will get involved ?

As if in answer the Champion, borne by her batwings, flies into the clearing and challenges Lorric to single combat. Lorric, currently occupied killing a Giant, declines. She repeats her challenge asking him to face her, his sister.

She then flies to hover over the combat and Lorric leaps into the air striking at her and stunning her, causing her to plummet out of the air. Ajax and Kapek come to an unspoken decision to let Lorric handle her in single combat and turn their full attention to defeating the last of their other opponents.

The Champion struggles to her feet and is instantly stunned again by Lorric. The final Giant is slain by Ajax and instantly the portal vanishes as does the prone body of the Champion.

*Ajax comments
On the off chance the entire fight has been magically transmited to the crowd in the arena Ajax makes sure to declare himself loudly so all will know who this handsome, deadly Shifter was.

One Quaraphon is left alone in the clearing. It starts to carefully back off. The Fists give it to understand they will not harm it and it turns and flees into the jungle. (Though away from Stormreach they notice, which makes them wonder if the poor thing had been one of Malketh's slaves).

The group fall to discussing their plans. Lorric wants to return to Stormreach immediately to settle things with Malketh and find out what has happened to his mother and his relationship with his newly found sister. Ajax feels they must honour their contract to the Professor and go to help the expedition. Kapek understands and sympathises with both views but feels Lorric's loyalty to his family must outweigh his loyalty to the Professor. Finally Sparky suggests they wait until morning when he will pray for the spells to inquire of the Storm for answers that will hopefully help make their decision easier.

The fact that all hope the mysterious spellcaster is a mercenary who will be gone by then also features in this decision.

Sar, 21st Lharvion 998 Y.K.

The next morning, as planned, Sparky cast 'Commune' to answer the many questions of the Crimson Fists.

Is the Champion really Lorric's sister? - Yes
Is Lorric's mother alive? - Yes
Is Lorric's Mother in peril? - Unclear
Was last nights fight shown in the arena? - No
Does Malketh actually know where Lorric's Mother is? - Unclear
Will Malketh attack again if we move on to join the expedition? - No
Will Malketh interfere in other ways? - No
Is Lorric's mother human? - No
Is she fiendish? - No
Is she an extra-planar being? - No

*Ajax comments
Ajax is bitterly disapointed to hear that last night's fight was not shown in the arena.

Sparky then cast a Sending to Malixendria the Champion:

"Lady I am a comrade of your brother. He would be grateful for information on his mother and Malketh's plans for him."

He quickly received a reply from her :

"Our mother is imprisoned within an iron fortress on the plane of Pazunia. I do not know of Malketh's plans for you. Send Lorric apologies."

In light of the new information the matter is debated again and the decision made to carry on and join up with the expedition. Following their guides the Fists head into the depths of the jungle, with Ajax delightedly trying out his newly improved sense of smell on the plants.

Several days of peaceful travel pass.

Mol, 23rd Lharvion 998 Y.K.

In the morning the Fists approach a ruin of gigantic stone buildings. The guides identify it as Hrek'Ix Gerak which translates as 'Prison of the Primeval' in Giantish. It is said to have a strange effect on the vegetation that grows within it and on anybody who stays there too long, and it is reputed to be home to some secret, ancient power.

As the Fists enter the ruins they spot movement and notice weird, scorpion like creatures observing them from the ruins. Mirra addresses them in Giantish and they set off a weird ullulating cry that echoes eerily around the desolate ruins and is answered by identical cries from in front and behind the Crimson Fists !

As more of the creatures appear, one of them addresses Mirra in Common and tells her to prepare to be eaten. With where each side stands clearly defined the Fists prepare to fight. Sparky casts Bull's Strength on Ajax, Lorric uses a wand to cast Mage Armour on himself and Mirra casts Haste on the group. In response Ajax, Kapek and Mirra are outlined by aura's of violet fire as one of the Scorpionfolk casts Faerie Fire on them.

Lorric and Ajax rush forward and engage one of the Scorpionfolk each, dealing powerful blows but wounding themselves on the strange thorns that grow from the creatures. Two large boars join the seven Scorpionfolk and all advance on the Crimson Fists.

Kapek finishes Ajax opponent with a volley of Force Boomerangs and Sparky casts Fly on himself. Lorric's opponent changes into a bird and flies up to a crumbling tower above the battleground. Mirra begins to recite tales of adventure and inspired Lorric and Ajax slay one of the boars.

Yet more Scorpionfolk arrive and two level lances, stir into a frenzied rage and charge Ajax, piercing him through, only the enhanced constitution of his Shifted forms keeps Ajax alive as he is run clean through by both lances.

*Ajax comments
Ajax has never, NEVER, been hit as hard as by the lances of those two Scorpionfolk!

The ruins shake and vegetation is flattened as a Colossal scorpion thunders into view behind the Scorpion folk. The Fists gape as the full forty foot of its glistening body heaves into view. The decision is made without need for speech at that very second, it is time to run !

Sparky raises forty feet straight up into the air and with his Rod of Frost casts Wall of Ice at a strategic point, cutting all but two of the enemies off from the Crimson Fist.

In an obvious attempt to slow down their retreat the area containing Kapek, Mirra and Oz sprouts jagged spears of stone from the ground, making movement difficult and dangerous. Oz stealithly flees and Kapek jumps into Reaver's sadlle and Mirra climbs up behind him.

Ajax and Lorric turn and, with a considerable turn of speed, run into the jungle leaving most of the Scorpionfolk hammering desperately at the Wall of Ice. The rest of the group are terrified as another scorpion of colossal seize emerges behind them and snatches Kapek straight out of his saddle in its huge claws. Not only is Kapek held fast by the fearsome creature but Mirra finds herself alone on a fierce creature she has no idea how to control. Sparky swoops down and casts Freedom of Movement on Kapek. Agilely Kapek drops to the ground, comes up in a roll, leaps into Reaver's saddle and with a "Heigh ho Reaver away!" gallops into the jungle.

Sparky's brave manoeuvre had left him hovering in front of the Scorpion to cast his spell with lightning speed it responds, seizing him in its claw, only for his skill with 'Travel' magic to show as he slipped effortlessly from its claws. The creature was not finished though its other claw smashed brutally into the unfortunate Cleric and then its stinger snapped forward piercing him through the heart and dropping him dead to the ground. The sky darkened and rain poured down on the battlefield as the loyal servant of the Storm breathed his last.

The plants around Ajax try to grasp him but he slips out of their grip, casts Entangle from his Hand of the Oak Father item behind him to slow the enemies advance and then flees.

With heavy hearts at the loss of Sparky the Crimson Fists flee into the jungle.

The next morning all the Fists pray to the Storm to welcome its brave servant, who had died saving a comrades life, into his eternal embrace.

Two days of peaceful, but sad travel followed until that evening they come into sight of the frontier town of Narwell.

Stormreach

2011-03-24T19:27:00.019Z

Mol 16th Lharvion, 998 Y.K.

7.00 p.m.

Six days of peaceful journeying pass before they reach STORMREACH.

Having put ashore they bid a fond farewell to Captain Nose-Chewer, he is going to head into town and see about selling the 'Siren's Teat' and will meet them in 'The Rusty Nail' tavern later this evening. Lorric immediately heads to the nearest pub, 'The Leaky Dinghy' where he manages to get challenged to a fight by a Scrag and his mates (within two minutes of entering the bar, a new record !). Lorric is most disappointed when the Scrag, known as Graak, noticing Lorric's blithe confidence, even when he pulles out a battleaxe, bottles it and backs down.

After a few well deserved drinks the Crimson Fist take Sparky's body to the Temple of the Sovereign Host in the hope of having him returned to them. They speak with the High Priest who agrees to speak with Sparky in the after life. Sparky informs them he definitely wants to live again.

The Priest agrees to try to return Sparky (for suitable recompense of course) tomorrow, at dawn.

The group then makes its way to the “Rusty Nail”, where they meet up with Captain Nose-chewer. Here they unwind, with plenty of drink and good company.

However, they do not allow themselves to fully drop their guard, and a watch schedule is set up for the night. Lorric’s watch is disturbed at one point by Ajax, as the shifter slips out to spend some time with one of the ladies he met earlier in the evening, but otherwise the night is uneventful.

Zol 17th Lharvion, 998 Y.K.

6.00 a.m.

In the morning the group, except for Ajax who is still out, head to the Temple of the Sovereign Host to be present for Sparky’s return from the grave. The ceremony is long and complex, involving many priests, but it changes part-way through into something much more sinister.

Entering the temple you see the corpse of Sparky laid on the main altar, incense burns and offerings lie about his cold body.

The circles are drawn and the spell is cast before a small congregation of adepts, you watch as the High Priest intones the ancient words and implores the Gods for the return of Sparky’s spirit. As the spell draws to a conclusion the room temperature seems to drop and the shadows seem to deepen. The Priest’s words echo through the large stone building, the recitation of Sparky’s true name resonates with unnatural timbre, “Phirius Oberson” repeats and fades as both the Priest and Sparky begin to sparkle and shine with magical energy.

The priest and the corpse are bathed in a glow of holy light which brightens to blinding intensity before suddenly seeming to devour itself like a lantern burning oil too quickly. With a screaming roar the temple is thrust into thick tenebrous shadow which seems to roll and swirl like mist.

Distant voices chant like celestial choirs but their holy words do little to alleviate the foreboding in the still dark air.

Looking around the room you see that the doors and windows have gone, leaving only stone walls in their place, gone too are the priest and his congregation.

A blazing fire of dim flame ignites upon the altar, within you can see the still and shadowy, incorporeal form of Sparky, a superimposed second projection of his image writhes and struggles as if trying to free itself of some unseen bonds.

Around the room several secondary fires erupt into life, burning with cold blue flames you can see silhouetted forms within, charging from a further perspective than possible.

Voor

Canoloth

The chanting priests disappear, as do the doors, and the light changes. Where the doors once were, shimmering blue energy fields appear through which strange creatures can be seen approaching from what looks like some distance. Another glow has formed over Sparky’s recumbent form, with strange unearthly fires dancing around him. The Crimson Fist prepare for battle.

Mirra establishes that the fields around the room are indeed portals, with a strong negative energy component, while in contrast the field over Sparky resonates with positive energy. She then dives under one of the pews as the creatures emerge into the room.

Most of them are squirming abominations with tentacular hands, but from an alcove high up on the back wall the battle is overseen by a huge demonic figure that Mirra identifies as a Nycoloth, member of a quasi-demonic species known as the Yugoloth that often act as mercenaries.

The first wave is dealt with swiftly, Lorric’s flashing fists and Oz’s deadly bow taking their toll of the invaders, while Kapek flings a hail of boomerangs against the Nycoloth. This provokes the Nycoloth into several flyby strikes against Kapek, its huge axes carving into him. From under the pew, Mirra assists with her stirring speech and the occasional healing spell.

A second wave of strange creatures pours into the room, this time insectoids wielding tridents. These seem to be making a run for the helpless Sparky, and the first one to reach him jumps onto the altar and into the flame. Lorric follows it, stunning it then grabbing it and throwing it from the dais. It is dead before it hits the floor. The other insectoids begin to emit a noxious gas, which takes Oz out of the fight for the time being, as he staggers, choking, to a corner of the room.

By this time a third wave has entered, twisted bipedal dog-like creatures. The group is hard-pressed now, even Mirra coming under attack. Fortunately, the Nycoloth seems to have withdrawn back into the portal from which it emerged, there is certainly no sign of it. Lorric is feeling invigorated by the flame surrounding him, as he throws back the creatures trying to pass through the portal above Sparky.

As fast the Crimson Fist despatch their foes, they are replaced by fresh foes from the portals – this time more of the tentacular and insectoid creatures, accompanied by huge muscular humanoids wielding massive swords. Several attack Kapek, while the others head to the altar. Globes of darkness blanket the room, adding to the confusion.

Kapek is badly injured by another of the muscular humanoids who appears from nowhere behind him, but Oz recovers and drops one of them with a deadly shot. More gas appears, but poorly aimed it fails to reach anyone. The tide is clearly turning as the portals fail to disgorge any further attackers. With the death of the final insectoid at the hands of Lorric atop the altar, the lights change and the portals fade, to be replaced by the familiar doors.

Mezzoloth

Corruptor of Fate

Nycaloth

Shocked looks greet the Crimson Fist on their return as the priests take in their bloody and gore-spattered appearance. Sparky sits up with some difficulty, alive but clearly very weakened. He explains that he could feel his life force draining away through the flames, that the creatures upon the altar were absorbing it. Lorric, too, was inadvertently bolstering himself at Sparky’s expense, and there was little left when the fight ended.

After regaining his composure, the high priest tells the group that this sort of incident is not unknown in Stormreach. Sometimes evil creatures from elsewhere try to come back with the spirits of the departed.

The group then get cleaned up at the temple and retire to the “Anvilfire Inn”. Here they meet a young boy carrying a message for them, a message indicating that Ajax is being held prisoner and the Crimson Fist should go to 7 Galley Terrace if they wish to see him again. It is signed with a symbol, one they recognise from the sewers under Sharn.

“Your companion is being held captive. Meet with us to discuss this further. 7 Galley Terrace, do not involve any other parties.”

The boy, who gives his name as Galion, offers his services as guide and information broker. Lorric accepts the offer, and pays him extra to not give out any information regarding the group. Galion seems to be worth the money, as he provides a lot of interesting information:

Graak, a scrag enforcer claims that he is owed money by the party. He has called in a few favours and it is said that the Bilge Rats have taken out a contract on the Crimson Fist.
A scholar that came in on a ship named the ‘Eyes of Malsheem’ has been asking about the ‘Southern Sun’ for the past week or so.
The Brelish Consulate wishes to speak with the party.
Representatives of House Sivis have been watching the harbour for the ‘Southern Sun’ for the last week.
The “Storm’s Fury” stable, a gladiatorial company in the Red Ring, is interested in Lorric. Its leader, Malketh Zolark, is influential in the Blood Council, the group that runs the Red Ring.
Several captains swiftly left with their vessels when they heard news of the ‘Sirens Teat’s’ arrival in Stormreach.

The stable that Lorric formerly worked for, the “Basilisk’s Stare”, seems to have collapsed shortly after Lorric left Stormreach, possibly as a result of the gambling scam that he scuppered. Another participant in the scam was the Storm’s Fury.

The group take their leave of Galion, who lets them know that he can be found at the “Ship’s Cat” in the Southwatch, and head for 7 Galley Terrace.

7 Galley Terrace, The Harbour

This derelict building is built into the side of ancient ruins, thickly overgrown its entrance is practically obscured by vines and the front is heavily daubed with sea-bird guano. The door is boarded but closer investigation reveals that it has recently been forced.

Pulling back the boards and entering the house draws little attention from the bustling crowds of the Harbour, as you enter your eyes adjust to the dim light in the room. It appears to have once been a reasonably nice house, but now the windows are cracked and overgrown with mosses, the smell of stale urine permeates the dusty air. Vandalism is present in the form of graffiti daubed on the walls and it looks as though at some point there has been a fire set in the centre of the room. Close by there are dark patches and sprays of viscous liquid that you assume is blood.

Across the main room are three doorways, a quick glance tells you that one leads to what could have been a kitchen, one a bedroom and the third appears to lead down a set of stairs into darkness.

This turns out to be a dilapidated old house and after a brief scout by Lorric and Oz, who discover that the boarded up door has been recently forced, the Fist make their way inside. The ground floor is deserted, so they head down to the basement. Kapek notices strange tracks on the ground, and from behind an old bookcase can be heard odd scratching sounds. Lorric sneaks round to take a look and sees a horrific-looking creature. It is composed of a mass of demonic clawed arms, each with an eye in the palm. In view of the fact that the group are here to negotiate for Ajax’s release, it is decided to try to talk with the creature. Mirra and the still weakened Sparky choose to lurk in the stairway, and both Lorric and Oz take up hidden positions, leaving Kapek as amateur diplomat. No sooner has the Halfling called out to the creature though, than it throws the bookcase to the floor and attacks.

Kapek wields the Desert Blade against it, as Lorric dances around it delivering devastating blows and Oz fills it full of arrows. It goes on a rampage, tearing through all of them in one swift charge. Only Lorric stands firm, delivering another devastating blow as Kapek urges Reaver to leap aside and Oz follows suit. They resume attacking the creatures which quickly succumbs to their assault.

On the far wall of the room is another note, marked with the same symbol. It simply says:

“Gert’s Villa, Summerfield, South Watch”.

The group swiftly make their way to the South Watch, calling in first at the “Ship’s Cat” to consult again with Galion.

The boy knows of Gert’s Villa, an ironically named small house in the area. It is owned by an unspectacular elderly couple, Francis and Belina Gert. He knows little more than that.

The title “Villa” is a somewhat sarcastic reference to the hovel that stands before you. Built under an edifice where two pillars have collapsed together the building is not one of the finest you have seen by a good distance.

Lorric makes the approach this time, and the door is answered by an old lady. After some subtle conversation it becomes clear that the group as a whole is expected, and so the others waiting nearby reveal themselves. They are all invited in and offered tea. The couple inside are polite and friendly, but obviously not happy about the situation. They seem to be under some obligation to this sinister organisation.

The Fist are given a map, and warned to stick strictly to the route given. It starts at a mirror in the room, activated by tracing a sigil on its surface. Naturally the group are cautious about going through a teleporter to who-knows-where, but their fears are a little assuaged when Mirra identifies it as merely a phantasm covering a shaft leading underground. Still sceptical, but feeling their obligation to their missing comrade, the Crimson Fist descend.

As you descend the familiar scent of sea-water and sewage fills your nostrils only this time it is tinged with an aroma that is new to you, a sickly-sweet, rancid smell that could be rotting flesh or burning honey.

In the darkness on the periphery of your vision, just out of the reach of the torchlight you see constant motion down the tunnels; an occasional strange white crab-like creature scuttles across the floor and up the walls before scurrying into the darkness. Deeper and deeper you descend, sometimes catching sight of tentacles or some kind of subterranean octopoids, or perhaps slime that drips upwards from floor to ceiling, wails and howls echo from down distant tunnels adding to the feeling of unease this place grants. Eventually you reach a dead end, a dull and dirty mirror stands before you.

The trip is unsettling, strange noises and dimly glimpsed distorted figures haunting their every step. Passing through the mirror at the other end, which the gnome is bale to identify as an actual teleporter this time, takes them to another nightmare world. Here they are met by a mind flayer, who cautions them to act with respect as they are entering a holy place. His words are backed up by strangely tentacled beholders, who escort them through to meet their host.

The Temple of Thoon

Tracing the sigil upon the glass once again causes the mirror to slowly fade from view leaving an open doorway before you, an impenetrable darkness beyond.

Stepping through the darkness clears and you find yourselves in a large and strangely cathedral-like hall. Your ears pop as though the pressure has just risen drastically. Dim runes crawl over the surface of numerous pillars that become ornate arches some eighty feet above illuminate the hall with a slight blue glow.

Beyond the pillars to the sides you see humanoid forms moving amongst strange tentacled creatures, several large floating orbs can be seen slowly moving between the pillars some fifty feet up, their huge eyes all intently gazing upon you.

A pair of humanoid figures step out of the darkness, moving towards you. You hear a voice in your heads that you can only assume emanates from the squid headed being that faces you, its tentacles twitch as though tasting the air around you.

“You have arrived in the most sacred temple of Thoon, there is no escape so any acts of violence would be utterly futile. You have been brought here to speak with the council of the Shadowed Star, they have many questions to ask. Please follow me.”

With that the Mindflayer takes several steps backward before turning and walking through the great hall.

As you follow you realise that in this place there is life everywhere, just on the periphery of your senses you can detect movements, breathing, pulsating, writhing. You are thankful that you can not see these things to their fullest degree lest your mind become permanently scarred by the sheer madness of their forms.

As you reach the far end of the great hall you see a large symbol glowing with a faint purple hue that rests over a huge doorway. The Symbol that you have seen many times before seems to carry with it a new menace, this is the mark of the Shadowed Star.

As you approach the doorway the mindflayer that leads you stops and turns, once more you hear its voice in your head. “You may enter the Chamber of Seven, act with respect and you shall walk free of this place.”

With that the aberration steps to one side and gestures that you enter.

The Chamber of Seven

This chamber is much smaller than the hall that you have just left, the alien, organic-looking architecture continues in here with sinuous pillars and no clear margin where walls floor and ceilings meet, glancing behind you see that two of the floating orbs have followed you in here, similar to the beholder that you met previously, only these have the same mouth tentacles of the mindflayers and their eye-stalks are much more tentacular.

Walking forward into the darkness ahead you see seven forms at the end of the room. Getting closer you can see, almost with relief, that these are human, one stands in the centre of the far wall with three flanking him on the side walls. As you approach you see them twitch occasionally, something is not right. A gem flares to a dim illumination on the ceiling above them giving you the opportunity to take in the full horror of what stands before you. Each of the figures hangs like a marionette from a thick maggot-like pseudopod that emerges from the fleshy wall behind them. The pale white pseudopods pulse gently attached to the human figures on the top of their skulls by a ring of sharp hooked teeth.

The figures twitch into life as you approach, the central figure rises into the air by a foot and drifts towards you carried by the great fleshy arm that holds it.

A voice that does not belong to the body speaks through it.

“Welcome, I am glad that you accepted our invitation. Please introduce yourselves.”

The conversation is superficially polite, the group trying to hide their disgust for their host, and it in turn failing to hide its disdain for the group. Like the other factions they have met, it seems to know a great deal about the Prophecy and the group’s role in awakening significant players. It congratulates them for their victory in keeping what it refers to the “abomination”, the child, from them but assures them it holds no ill will. What it wants is information. It is working for Thoon, and is concerned about the recent events surrounding Holashner and the Aboleths. Cautiously the two factions exchange information.

The following questions are asked:

1. Where is Scuttlecove?

2. What happened to captain Cresta of the Siren's Teat?

3. What do they know of Golismorga?

4. What do they know of Shadow Pearls?

5. What are the aboleth’s plans?

6. What was the Siren’s Teat shipping, and where to?

7. What do they know of the ‘King Beneath the Waves’?

8. What do they know of Obyzouth or the Atropal Lachryma?

9. Who is Zaphkiel and where is he imprisoned?

10. What is the Bleakspire?

11. Where is Kraa’T Ymraag Draal? (goblin for, “The City Beneath the Spire”)

The following information is gleaned from these discussions:

Thoon is the servant of Obyzouth, a stillborn god who is even now approaching Eberron and who may be the new thirteenth moon. He represents the power of death, and his role is to bring death to all of Eberron. The Bleak General works towards the same ends as Thoon, and the Clockwork Fortress, recently fighting against Thoon in Droaam, has been defeated. Zlortharkis is apparently allied with Thoon. As for the Librarian, he is an enigma to all sides, but it is rumoured he is descended from ancient rajahs, possibly making him a Rakshasa. He was last seen entering Haka'Torvhak. The group suspects that this may be Yshtamar.

In addition to information about the city of Golismorga and the events there, it wishes to know about Zaphkiel’s Prison, a place called Kraa’T Ymraag Draal. Somewhat imprudently, Mirra blurts out that this was a former Dhakaani outpost somewhere in the Skyraker Mountains of modern Breland, rumoured to be guarding something sleeping. The creature is pleased with this new knowledge and Mirra is left with the feeling that she has rather put her foot in it.

Finally, and most annoyingly to the Crimson Fist, the creature reveals that Ajax is not being held by them but is in fact with the prostitute he met last night. A rather embarrassed Crimson Fist is then teleported to Gert's Villa.

Return to Daylight
Back at the “Ship’s Cat”, they ask Galion about the girl that Ajax was seen with. He recognises her, and cautions them that Ajax should probably see a doctor.

The group return to 'The Rusty Nail' to find Ajax having a hearty breakfast. The recent events are quickly explained to him, to his amusement. Lorric then suggests that they head down to the docks to find the Scrag, Grak, who has put out a contract on them.

As they head through the city it becomes obvious to the more observant members of the group that they seem to be an object of great interest to everybody they pass. Lorric quietly slips away from the group and begins to shadow them, looking for people who are also trailing his comrades. He quickly spots one and sneaking up behind the man he grabs him and hauls him into a quiet alley.Under threats the man admits to being a member of the 'Bilge Rats' but claims that they didn't accept the contract on the Crimson Fist as Grak couldn't afford them. The Bilge Rats are watching the Crimson Fist because they are interested in the sale of 'The Siren's Teat' (and in them getting their cut). Lorric is convinced of the man's story and apologises, then knocks him out and slips away.

Grak isn't in his usual pub so Ajax bribes the bartender and discovers Grak usually spends his days underwater and won't be in the pub until after sundown. The Bartender also reveals 'The Eye of Malsheem' is a very strange ship berthed on the other side of the harbour. This turns out to be true, the ship is of a type none of the Fists have ever seen before, flying a flag of a clawed hand grasping a skull. The ship appears to be deserted so Lorric leaves a note asking for the scholar to contact them at 'The Rusty Nail'.

Then the Fist head back to 'The Ships Cat' tavern to meet with Gallion. They ask him for directions to the Brellish ambassador and then head over to the Brellish Consulate, which turns out to be a rather disappointing building, small and drab.
They get to meet Rusila Ir'Clarn, the ambassador, and offer to sell her the maps to Scuttlecove, the pirate island. She is very interested in them but feels she must contact her superiors first. Lorric points out that other people might be interested in the map and she implores them not to sell the maps ( even playing on their patriotism which is a bit of a non starter as only half the group are actually Brellish). The Crimson Fist agree to return tomorrow when she has had chance to receive word from her superiors.

Lorric then takes the Fists loot to sell at the market while the rest of the group take the maps to Captain Nose Chewer at 'The Southern Sun' to get a copy made. While the rest of the Fists watch over the map Lorric retires to 'The Rusty Nail' for a drink. There he meets Sszyl Zszton, the scholar that came in on 'The Eye of Malsheem', who turns out to be a Tiefling. He is also interested in purchasing the maps to Scuttlecove because, he claims, it is home to creatures he opposes, although he refuses to reveal who he serves.

Lorric brings him to the rest of the Fists to discuss the matter. They discuss the prophecy and exchange information. Sszyl claims the Librarian arrived with them on their ship, which fits with their suspicion that the Librarian is Ysthamar (the Rakshasha the Crimson Fists freed in Sharn) as Rakshasha's can shapeshift themselves into human form. Sszyl also offers 40,000 for a copy of the maps. The Fists ask for privacy and time to discuss his offer and he agrees and then teleports away.

Sszyl returns an hour later and is informed that the Fists must consider other offers but if none of them match his they will sell to him. He departs and the Fists set a very paranoid watch on the map.

As night falls Grak and five other Scrags haul themselves out of the water onto the docks near 'The Southern Sun' and start to head towards 'The Eye of Malsheem'. Lorric sneaks off 'The Southern Sun' and with one mad charge dives straight into the middle of them striking at Grak with a flurry of deadly blows and dropping him. Grak's five comrades quickly form a ring around Lorric and proceed to batter him. Having dropped Grak, Lorric belligerently growls a warning not to be putting any contracts on them, nimbly tumbles away from the throng, and then runs like hell.
The other Scrags grab Grak and drag him back into the water. Lorric returns to his comrades in triumph, although this is slightly dented when its pointed out that Grak, as a Scrag, will regenerate his wounds.

*Lorric comments
This feeling quickly turns to relief however, when Lorric realises he has not killed Grak, but has probably sent just the necessary warning message to the Scrags.

Hours pass peacefully then during Sparky and Ajax's watch a shamanic looking Scrag pulls itself out of the water and approaches 'The Southern Sun'. In a loud voice he declares that the feud between his and Grak's tribe and the Crimson Fists is now over. The Fists agree with this and the lone Scrag returns to the water.

The rest of the night passes peacefully. Dawn arrives and as usual Sparky prays to the Storm for spells. He is especially fervent this morning, giving thanks for his resurrection and in answer the sky darkens and rain pours down on a exultant Sparky, a blessing from his God.

In the morning while everybody else guards the map Lorric returns to the Brellish ambassador. She offers him 10,000 in cash and a letter of credit redeemable in Sharn for another 50,000 but insists she must be the only person they sell the map to. Lorric returns and the group discuss the matter. Eventually motivated by money, their patriotism and the feeling that the Brellish navy will make the best job of destroying whatever evil lurks on the island it is decided to accept her offer. She is pleased but can't raise the cash immediately and ask the Fists to return tomorrow morning.
At a loose end the Fists agree to Lorric's suggestion that they visit 'The Red Ring' gladiatorial company and watch the contests while he renews old friendships, or perhaps enemies considering the betting scam he had ruined when he was last here.

Lorric soon runs into a battered old dwarf, one Berlick Headslammer, a friend from his gladiatorial days. They learn that the master of 'The Storms Fury' (a name that Sparky strongly approves of) Malketh remembers Lorric from the old days, and not in a good way.

Berlick arranges an introduction and soon the Fists are in the presence of Malketh and his supercilious assistant. Malketh offers Lorric a fight against his new Champion so he can help re-coup the losses he caused. Lorric is offered 5,000 and the location of his mother (whom Lorric has never met) and is threatened very unsubtly if he turns down the offer. Malketh also offers to arrange a fight for Ajax, but only agrees to pay him 2,000 much to Ajax's disgust.

*Ajax comments
Ajax is still very tempted by the offer playing as it does to his three primary desires : money, glory and the chance to impress beautiful women. Only the fact that Malketh is self-evidently less trustworthy than a rabid weasel stops him from agreeing on the spot.

The Crimson Fist are then escorted to seats in the arena to watch the contests. They get to see the Champion in action, she appears to be some sort of infernal half-breed and is very skilled. They observe her acrobatic fighting style as he defeats an opponent and feel Lorric will have his work cut out to defeat her.

*Kapek comments
Kapek disapproves of the arena, in his opinion there can be many reasons to fight but a spectator sport is not one of them.

Beyond the Cerulean Curtain

2011-03-05T14:33:00.035Z

Far, 6th Lharvion 998 Y.K.

The Crimson Fists pass through the curtain then pause briefly at the turn to the town of Barnabus, the dwelling place of the mongrel folk, but decide not to bother them and press on. After two miles Irgzid tells them that the next turning leads to a cavern where it is said a god rests. The group are unable to resist the temptation to see what a god looks like and head down the tunnel.

Cavern of the Sleeping God

On the far side of this cavern, a shimmering blue wall extends all the way to the sixty-foot high ceiling. Across its surface, ghostly tribal warriors shimmer and flicker. Just beyond it, the occasional bubble or flash of scales reveals the presence of thousands of gallons of water, their awesome weight held at bay by the shell of energy. On the floor in the centre of the cave is a strange looking mound of stone shaped like an enormous fish.

A close examination of this shows the stone to in fact be some form of organic shell. Kapek identifies this as an Aboleth in some form of hibernation. Lorric pokes the hibernating Aboleth and tries to persuade the rest of the group to kill it. However his arguments fail to convince and they move on (though with Lorric still trying to persuade them).

*Ajax comments
During this argument the small fact that during lean times in the Fallen Ajax had eaten some of a member of a rival gang he had slain comes up. To his astomishment this seems to bother Lorric, although Kapek seems much more reasonable about it, to the extent that he keeps bringing it up during the argument although Ajax really can't see its connection to the matter they're discussing.

*Kapek comments
Kapek is not much more reasonable about it, cannibalism is an abominable crime. Sometimes Reaver tucks into a fallen foe, that's not quite the same.

As they get closer to the spot where Irgzid tells them they will meet with the ghost of the priest he becomes more and more excited. Suspicious the Crimson Fist question him and become convinced he is holding something back. Despite intense questioning Irgzid maintains he is telling them everything. Unconvinced the group decide to send Lorric ahead to scout the meeting place. Lorric stealthily approaches the room and examines it, he thinks he can see a strange shadow in the water but cannot make out any clear threat so his comrades join him.

Temple of the Ancient Ones

The tunnel walls here change suddenly from rough natural stone to an intricately carved corridor bearing glyphs and mosaics of tribal design, just before they open into an immense flooded chamber. The walls of the square chamber rise up in steps, forming an inverted ziggurat with its ceiling some forty feet above the dark waters that flood the room to just below the entrance. The floor is a ruin of smashed pillars and small islands constructed in roughly the same pyramidal fashion. In the centre, a line of destroyed columns and altars protrudes a few feet above the surface, creating a makeshift bridge that dips briefly into he water before reaching the passage on the far side.

As soon as they reach the entrance to the temple the ghost of the troglodyte priest appears. The Crimson Fist converse with him at length, he asks them to destroy the artifact, called the 'Tear of Tlaloc', that maintains the Cerulean Veil (the Crimson Fist realise this is also the artifact the demoness Pale Night wished them to destroy). This will free his people from the Lords of Dread who have corrupted the worship of the troglodyte god, Laogzed. Lorric inquires of Sparky if he knows what kind of god Laogzed is. When informed that one of Laogzed's portfolio's is Evil Lorric immediately attacks the ghost. However despite his Ghost Touch weapon Lorric's attack passes harmlessly through the ghost.

Sparky yells that it could be an illusion and Lorric immediately tries to disbelieve in the truth of the image before him and indeed to Lorrics eyes the ghost suddenly becomes less real. Mirra casts 'Detect Magic' and confirms the ghost is in fact a magical illusion, she also realises there is another source of magic in the water. She immediately casts 'Glitter Dust' at the hidden aura in the water and the figure of a aquatic humanoid is briefly illuminated by the spell before it dives into the murky depths of the water and out of sight.

The image of the ghost admits to its deception but claims that he was afraid if he appeared in person he might be attacked, he also maintains that Irgzid was unaware of the deception truly believing he was dealing with a ghost. The illusion claims that if the Crimson Fist want to permanently drive off the Lords of Dread and end the trade in Shadow Pearls they need to destroy the Tear and free the Aboleths who would remain to prevent the Lords of Dread returning.

This sparks a heated debate, Lorric argues they shouldn't destroy the Tear as they cannot do what a Demon has asked. Ajax argues they should, saying it is the only way to stop the trade in Shadow Pearls resuming after they have left. Eventually Kapek is asked to decide the matter, unsure he sides with Lorric as recently so many of Lorrics requests have been rejected.

They march on for a few more miles before stopping and camping for the night.

Sar, 7th Lharvion 998 Y.K. In the morning Sparky casts 'Commune' to ask advice from the Storm on their problems. His questions are:

Was Pale Night being honest when she said if released Holashner will attack Thoon? - Yes
Is releasing Holashner good for the world? - Good for existence
Did Pale Night tell the truth when she said she was trying to prevent the destruction of existence? - Yes
Will releasing Holashner prevent the production of more Shadow Pearls? - Unclear
Is Clian, Ajax's lover, still alive? - Yes
Is the Librarian following us? - A Librarian is following you
Is the Librarian evil? - His purpose is unclear
Did the Blood of Vol kidnap Ajax, Kapek and Lorric? - No

Ajax claims that these answers support his opinion but Lorric merely says he will see what happens when they meet the Lords of Dread. Debating the group move on through the tunnels.

Hall of Insects

The passageway opens into a roughly circular cavern. A ten foot wide ledge runs across the northern and southern face of the room, with a passage leading away from each. Graceful arcs of stone bridge the two ledges in three places although the westernmost bridge has collapsed in the centre leaving a five foot wide gap. Above the ceiling rises up to a height of nearly forty feet, while blow the ground drops away an equal distance into a rubble strewn gulf. What appear to be six immense petrified fish lie on the floor of the crevice. The sound of whispering wells up from below, and the ground looks almost like it's moving.

Sparky casts 'Ebon Eyes' on himself and looks down into the crevice where he see's the floor is crawling with a vile carpet of scorpions, spiders and other vermin. Simultaneously all the group notice the horse sized insects clinging to the walls and eyeing them hungrily.

Lorric immediately charges the nearest creature inflicting severe damage but in response it grapples him as does a second creature. Another of the insects charges Ajax but the reach afforded him by his Shifted form enables him to shred it before it can even try to land a blow. A fourth charges Kapek but retreats when Reaver slashes it with his vicious clawed feet but it is soon replaced by yet another.

Oz opens fire with his bow and Mirra chants heroic tales to stir the blood of the Crimson Fist. Sparky rushes forward and casts 'Freedom of Movement' on Lorric, enabling him to effortlessly slip free of the insects which had seized him and slay one of them.

Kapek and Ajax (and Reaver) slay the creature attacking Kapek. Mirra casts 'Haste' as Kapek is grappled by another creature but again he and Ajax (and Reaver) slay it.

Ajax is grappled by two of the creatures but at devastating speed, Sparky slays one with a lightning charged spear, Lorric slays the other and the very last falls to Kapeks force boomerangs.

After catching their breath and healing up, the Crimson Fist moves on. They travel for six more miles before reaching a huge cavern.

Golismorga

The Tunnel opens into a massive three hundred foot high cavern nearly two thousand feet across and over three thousand feet wide, surrounded by numerous adjoining caves.

Within this immense cavern broods a realm of gigantic polyps and intricate fungi so large and elaborate they seem to compliment the twisted towers and temples, the myriad constructions of an insane city.

Ruined citadels of cyclopean grandeur tangle amid spires that look to have been grown rather than built - homes for beings with unspeakable forms. Senseless bridges reach to suicide heights, dropping away into squamous slums and melted ghettoes. Seemingly accidental avenues and inaccessible alleys form an unfathomable maze, a labyrinth that stretches to the subterranean horizon. Across it all bulge images of gnarled tentacled things and red domes that glisten like unblinking, demonic eyes. The already stale air has grown foul and close in this place, as if the smell of rot was somehow trying to crowd out the final gasp of freshness reaching these forsaken depths. Bursting from the demented cityscape, three titanic columns of unearthly violet flame churn silently like the pillars of some gigantic temple, bathing the entire cavern in a nauseating violet light - a light that seems somehow more horrible than the darkness that lurks at the edges of this nightmare grotto.

A rope is quickly knotted and affixed in several places to the wall. Irgzid refuses to go farther and Reaver cannot climb down. So Kapek is forced to leave his beloved mount behind, telling it a fond farewell and instructing it not to eat Irgzid. Minus those two the group climb down to the cavern floor. Upon reaching the floor the Crimson Fist start to pick their way through the strange organic houses towards the centre of the cavern. Even after all they have experienced the cavern disturbs the group and all are on edge, luckily for them as this means when one of the houses collapses they are fast to react. Most get out from under the collapsing structure, merely being pelted by fragments as it hits the ground but Sparky, slowed by his plate mail, is buried under the loathsome stuff and has to be quickly dug out before he suffocates on it. Warier than ever the Crimson Fist wonder what other dangers this place has. The abnormal environment trigger memories previously hidden in the minds of Ajax, Lorric and Kapek. Memories of themselves being experimented on in some strange laboratory. As they discuss the memories they come to the conclusion that they are of the time just after they were kidnapped and they seem to point to House Cannith, not the Blood of Vol, being behind the kidnapping.

Ajax's Memory Searing pain and the smell of burning flesh pull you from the darkness of oblivion. You find yourself bound face down to some sort of workbench, your first instinct is to shift and struggle free, but for some reason you find both impossible. The pain in your lower back is accompanied by the heady scent of blood, as you struggle to turn and see what the cause is; you open your eyes as if for the first time. Dazzled and briefly blinded by the bright white light that surrounds you, you involuntarily wince as your eyes adjust. A voice speaks with calm urgency, “He is regaining consciousness. Apply more serum,” comes a reply, “we have to finish this quickly. We have another fourteen candidates to tag before Merrix returns.” A cold fluid runs through a tube embedded in your neck and as darkness returns you get to glance around the room. Lined along the walls are several cylindrical glass tanks, floating in each amidst a tangle of tubes and wires, are figures that occasionally twitch or spasm, each in some kind of dormant state. One figure that imprints itself into your sleeping mind is the emaciated, alien figure of a creature that you have since come to recognise as an 'Ethergaunt'. The last thing you see before the darkness returns is the white-masked face of a human lifting your eye-lid and watching as your pupils once more dilate, and then dark silence.

Picking their way through the organic buildings they come to a tunnel in a wall of coral, it appears to be the only way forward. Carefully they head into the weird structure. They come to paths leading over a shallow pool to a strange, disturbingly organic crevice in the far wall. Suddenly the exits out of the room are sealed by walls of ice and a spiked tongue emerges from the crevice in the far wall! As if that wasn't bad enough tendrils of what appears to be water burst from the pools and attack the party. Mirra is grabbed and pulled down by the watery tentacles as is Oz, helpless they are wrapped in them and start to drown. Sparky to is attacked but his mastery of Travel magic means the tentacles cannot seize him although they have no trouble pounding him bloody. The tongue also strikes Sparky, its spikes drawing blood. Desperately Sparky quaffs a Healing potion before he falls to this weird attack. Lorric activates his Sandals of the Light Step, giving himself, Mirra and Oz 'Water Walking'. Although both Oz and Mirra are propelled by this magic to the surface of the pool they are still wrapped in the tentacles and drowning. Lorric then jumps onto the water and attacks the tentacles holding Oz. Ajax likewise uses his Sandals to provide 'Water Walking' for himself, Kapek and Mirra and then attacks the tentacles holding Mirra. As Mirra and Oz run short of air, Sparky aims his Staff of Frost at one of the pools and unleashes a 'Cone of Cold' at the tentacles. Mirra is seized by the tongue and dragged to the crevice in the wall (which has now sprouted teeth). It tries to simultaneously swallow her and chew her to pieces. Ajax pursues her and lays viciously into the maw holding her. As Lorric destroys the tentacles holding Oz a mass of tentacles hauls itself out of the pool and Mirra is swallowed whole by the maw. Lorric hurls himself at the mass of tentacles as more of them lash Oz and Sparky. Oz pours arrows into Lorric's opponent and it slumps back into the water, riddled with his arrows. The remaining tentacles lash Sparky and he slumps to the floor a bloody pulp. Lorric charges them and slays them as Ajax and Kapek finally finish the maw and in death it slumps open revealing a still living Mirra, who claims that there are rooms beyond the maw. The group rush to Sparky but it is too late, their cleric has passed on into the embrace of the Storm. There is a moments silence then his battered form is laid out and his eyes closed by his sorrowful comrades. The Crimson Fist discover that beyond the maw lie a series of rooms. Writings on the walls of them speak of the worship of the aboleth's deities.

BOLOTHAMOG (Him who Watches from Beyond the Stars)
HOLASHNER (The Hunger Below)
PISCAETHCES ( The Blood Queen)
SHOTHOTUGG (The Eater of Worlds)
Y'CHAK (The Violet Flame)

Together these beings are know as the Elder Evils. The Crimson Fist also find a cache of magic items and treasure. Having fully explored this section of the structure the group hack their way through the Ice Wall and move on to explore the rest. They move down the fleshy tunnels of the structure, turning a corner they discover a strange creature blocking the tunnel some forty feet away. The creature, who calls itself Rakis-Ka, doesn't seem hostile and he talks to the group. He claims to be here to gain knowledge and offers to take the group to the statue which holds the Tear. He also tells them of the Brain Collector that dwells there. A creature which the combined knowledge of the group tells them is capable of destroying entire regions when mature. This is not news that fills the group with joy. Rakis-Ka takes them to a huge crater with a floor covered with a layer of foul ichor and water. In the middle of the crater is the statue, the head of a lizard. But there is no sign of the Brain Collector. No-one is sure what to do, Lorric still hasn't decided if he is prepared to destroy the Tear and none are confident of there chances of taking on a Brain Collector, especially now Sparky is no longer there to support them.

A wide crater in the shattered cavern floor has become an abscess for all the pungent fluids that seep and bleed from the alien city. Rent as if by some great impact the cracked depression blossoms with sickly moulds and tumid blue and white mushrooms several heads taller than a full grown man. Languid veins of mucus trickle down the sides of the crater to pool at the basins floor, where lies a ten-foot wide stone head of a reptilian creature with bulging eyes, a forked-tongue, and a head-dress of feathers and spikes. The stone head is cracked and damaged, and as the black sludge pools around the stump of its neck it sizzles and evaporates into swirling blue-green wisps of vapour. Mirra volunteers to explore a little, she ties a rope around herself and hands it to her comrades then she descends a little way into the crater intending to cast 'Detect Magic' but after only a few feet she collapses and her comrades haul her swiftly out of the crater.

When Mirra is pulled out and brought round she explains that she had cast her spell but the magic of the statue was so great it had overwhelmed her. She believes the magic is so powerful the statue can only be an artefact.

As the group debate Lorric spots two bizarre creatures, that can only be Brain Collectors, and throws a flask of Alchemists Fire at one. (Which comes as a bit of a surprise to everyone else who hadn't noticed them). Now aware of them Ajax and Kapek realize neither of these two could have made the tracks they saw. There must a bigger, third one.

Mirra casts 'Haste' and Kapek unleashes a storm of Force Boomerangs at one of the creatures. Suddenly a 'Cone of Cold' blasts the group, coming from a completely empty spot in mid-air. Oz puts an arrow into the wounded Brain Collector and it slumps to the ground, dead. In response the other, visible, creature flies 45 feet up and out over the crater before casting 'Mirror Image' on itself.

Kapek uses an old Talenta hunting trick and looks for the subtle distortion in the air that shows where the invisible Brain Collector is. Having located it, he hurls Boomerangs into the space and is rewarded as they strike home and blood drips from out of empty air. In response a wave of mental energy strikes at the Crimson Fist but all but Oz resist its effects. Oz however is left confused by the attack and opens fire on Lorric by mistake, but either misses or has his arrows deflected by Lorric.

The visible creature and its images shot rays at Lorric but miss him.

Kapek hurls a flask of Alchemist Fire at the visible Brain Collector destroying its images and wounding it. The creature, sorely wounded, retreats rapidly.

Kapek throws off a strange feeling of paralysis in his limbs but then is flung viciously by some unknown force straight into Ajax. Undeterred he springs to his feet and with a flurry of Force Boomerangs finishes off the retreating Brain Collector.

Brain collector

Lorric's keen hearing picks up a whisper of movement where he can see nothing and he launches a Fireball (from his Necklace of Fireballs) at the sound. The invisible Brain Collector is illuminated in the heart of the Fireball and instantly Mirra casts 'Glitter Dust' on the area.

Oz, still confused, attempts to shoot Lorric again and in exasperation Lorric punches him out, stunning him.

Kapek pounds the remaining creature with Force Boomerangs and it swoops down on him, ripping him up badly. With a savage cry Ajax, who has been frustrated by his inability to reach or see his opponents all battle, pounces on the creature. His frustration is expended in a fierce series of blows that rips the Brain Collector to shreds.

*Ajax comments

Ajax is far from happy about his performance in the battle. He couldn't see the invisible creatures and couldn't reach the flying ones. All in all he was useless until one was foolish enough to fly low enough for him to reach. The reason for this failure are obvious to him, he had grown too used to having Anvil around who, with his artificer ways, could always whip up a spell to cover any eventuality. Well Anvil is walking his own journey now and Ajax must be better prepared in the future. In Stormreach he will buy an item that will enable him to fly and he will ask Kapek to teach him the Talenta hunting technique to deal with invisible foes. He has been complacent but no more. Next time he will be ready.

The group debate how to get Mirra through the vile smelling liquid at the bottom of the crater and to the statue. Ajax offers to carry her and she accepts and so together they head over to the statue.

After carefully examining the statue Mirra comes to the conclusion that sheer physical force will be enough to destroy the artifiact. Lorric declares that although he will not destroy the artifact he won't stop others doing it, so the group pulls back to the lip of the crater and Kapek pounds the statue with Force Boomerangs until it cracks apart. Then as the sound of uncountable tonnes of water rushing in fill their ears, they run like hell!

Pausing only to grab Sparky's remains they climb out of the foul city. They meet up with Irgzid and Reaver who are where they left them and continue their rapid retreat. (Although as they pass through the sunken temple they notice the shape of an Aboleth swimming in the waters, and their heads are briefly filled with an insane voice that laughs as the group leave the area). Within a few hours they reach the surface, panting for air and legs burning with exertion, there they bid a friendly goodbye to Irgzid and set sail.

"The Lightless Depths",

Dungeon Magazine 144. Written by F. Wesley Schneider and James Lafond Sutter

The Lightless Depths

2011-01-31T14:08:00.015Z

After the Sahuagin leave, Lorric suggests that the Crimson Fists fly to Scuttlecove island but is turned down by his comrades on the grounds it is inhabited by hordes of bloodthirsty pirates. Though this doesn't stop him going on about it over the following days.

Six day pass as the ships are repaired. Finally both are ready to sail. Captain Nose-Chewer places a skeleton crew on 'The Siren's Teat' and 'The Southern Sun' takes it under tow and they leave Solport behind them.

Mol 2nd Lharvion, 998 Y.K.

9.30 p.m.

Three nights out of port and the sailing is going well, last night a storm struck but it quickly blew itself out and aside from a large shiver of sharks that followed the ship for a while there have been no incidents.

As the sun sets over the islands to the west a shimmering in the sea can be seen, like a great shoal of fish beneath the waves. As you watch you see several dorsal fins break the surface, these great sharks seem to have figures sat astride them, as they near you can make out the familiar forms of sahuagin riding the great whites, a contingent of over two-score warriors circle the waters around them as they approach the ship.

The crew raise shouts of alarm and the watch bell begins to ring out as weapons are drawn.

As you watch the sahuagin part ant a shark bigger than any you have seen before rises to the surface carrying two brightly coloured sahuagin, the yellow one in the front is adorned in pearls, brightly coloured corals and sparkling metals, whilst her consort seated behind has intricately carved shark-skin armour covering his muscular four armed form, he carries two pearlescent tridents.

A shout in common skips across the waves from the golden priestess, “We seek the Crimson Fist with all urgency.”

Three days of sailing pass calmly. On the third night Kapek observes twenty Sahuagin mounted on great white sharks approaching. He raises the alarm and all arm themselves and prepare for the Sahuagin. As the twenty Sahuagin reach the ship a especially large shark rises from the depths bearing a four armed Sahuagin warrior and what the group now recognize as one of the Sahuagin priestesses. In broken common she addresses the ship, saying she wishes to speak with the Crimson Fist, after a brief debate she is invited on board.

She explains she is carrying a message about the destruction of a ship, The Brine Harlot'. A ship that had been sunk in her waters carrying 'a darkness'. This turns out to be a Shadow Pearl, a magical gem formed from the slime exuded by the 'Hunger Below' and a vital component in the creation of the Ectha. She presents them with a scroll retrieved from 'The Brine Harlot' and explains that the Boiling Chasm wish the Crimson Fist to put a stop to the trade in Shadow Pearls.

She explains that to do this they will have to enter the waters of 'the glutton'- a fearsome Dragonturtle. She offers them a chest of treasures to buy passage with and a strange musical instrument that is dipped into the water and used to summon 'the glutton'. After some debate and conferring with Nose-Chewer the group agree to undertake the mission.

The Tale of the Brine Harlot

‘The Brine Harlot’ was sailing north, it’s starting point is unknown but it’s destination was quite apparent. It was heading for the waters around Bluescar and Yarkuun Draal. Whilst this is not unusual, its cargo was. A disturbance followed the vessel as it skimmed the northern waters, it carried a darkness, a shadow that permeated to the darkest depths, and when they hit troubled waters they could not save themselves. The Boiling Chasm was filled with blood that night as the waters became a churning feeding frenzy.

As the broken ship fell to the sea bed it became apparent that their cargo was not usual. Dark, maddening magics issued from a locked strongbox and when this was forced open the tribe gazed upon the source of this darkness. They worked their magics and studied their ancient writings, speaking with the wise and the deceased until they found the true use of the item they had recovered. Even now they have many unanswered questions.

The item they found was known as a ‘Shadow Pearl’, the thing is crafted or perhaps born from a substance that is referred to as ‘Black Bile’. This item is the key component in the creation of the Echtha.

Zol 3rd Lharvion, 998 Y.K.

1.30 a.m.

Later that night a ghostly figure appears on the deck of the ship. The strange lady the group meet at Bluescar has returned.

"With the sinking of the Brine Harlot and the discovery of the Shadow Pearls it has come to light that this could be the perfect opportunity to sway the will of Holashner. Olman Isle used to be the home of the Olman tribe, a society of barbaric seafarers that lived many thousands of years ago. Time watched their small civilisation fade into memory but their deeds are reverberating to this day.

Deep beneath the island there is an ancient artefact that is keeping Holashner in a state of confusion, he craves tribute and worship yet his most sacred places are defiled by those who would harness his power for their own purposes.

The artefact was sacred to the Olman rain god Tlaloc and has held the island in check for nearly ten thousand years. With its destruction Holashner will turn his gaze and will begin to stir with direction."

She explains that she wishes the Crimson Fist while on Oloman to destroy an artifact that holds Holashner in confusion, so he may attack Thoon who was responsible for his condition.

She answers many questions the group have about the prophecies they have heard, during which she admits to being a demon.

After she leaves the Crimson Fist debate her request and decide that they can't trust her and so won't destroy the artifact.

Zor 5th Lharvion, 998 Y.K.

5.30 pm

They sail on to the island. When in sight of it Mirra dips the instrument into the water and plays it. With a mighty rush of water the Glutton arrives. The chest is tossed to him but he demands the same amount again. Despite Lorric's urging that they just attack the Glutton, the rest of the group provide him with the extra money. The Glutton grabs the money and vanishes into the depths.

'The Southern Sun' pulls into the cove and moors at a rickety wooden pier decorated with skulls burning with green fire that emit a nauseating gas. It leads into a cave that vanishes into the depths of the island. The Crimson Fist disembark and move along the pier into the cave. Inside they find a Dimetrodon, Kapek uses his skills as a dinosaur wrangler and calms the skittish beast.

A Troglodyte enters the cave and demands to know what they're doing. Ajax pretends to be there to buy Shadow Pearls and when the creature confirms they supply them, Ajax attacks and kills it. The Dimetrodon tears a chunk from Ajax's leg and three more Troglodyte's appear, one casting 'Hold Person'. The spell affects no-one and the battle is short and final. All the enemy are swiftly dispatched.

Close examination reveals the Troglodytes are wrapped in robes smeared with some strange, slightly magical, black goo. They also seem to be diseased with some strange, rotting illness. Upon seeing this Sparky makes sure to clean and bandage the wounds of the group to ensure this infection doesn't spread to them.

Laogroat
The Crimson Fist penetrate deeper into the cave complex, a dark and foul place decorated with decaying intestines and with strange paintings on the walls. The group walk for at least four miles before a familiar smell assails them. They find an iron gate leading into vast underground cave filled with strange domed stone huts.

Lorric and Ajax sneak into the cave, Lorric enters the nearest hut and finding four Troglodytes asleep he quietly kills them. Ajax sneaks into another hut and also finds sleeping Troglodytes. He is about to kill them when it strikes him that this is a dishonourable way to deal with enemies. He fills his lungs and yells "Wakey, wakey!" at the top of his lungs.

In response dozens of Troglodytes pour out of the huts and attack the group. Ajax and Lorric meet the claws of the Troglodytes with fist and claws while Oz pours arrows and Kapek boomerangs and Sparky lightning charged javelins into the enemy and Mirra intones epic poetry to inspire. As the group fight off the waves of Troglodytes, four of them cast 'Hold Person' but the spells are resisted. The Troglodytes break on the Crimson Fist and too late realize they are out-classed, they try to flee but are cut down to the last creature.

In the middle of the cave is a pit and by it two cages. In one is found a Troglodyte who is free from the disease that had affected all the others. He offers to aid the group if they will spare his life. The Troglodyte claims that he had been asked by the ghost of one of his kind to gather warriors to defeat the Lords of Dread, those who are creating the Shadow Pearls.
He calls himself Irgzid Uzeye.

Irgzid explained the ghost had told him the Lords of Dread were debasing the worship of their god, Laogzed. Pointing at the two-headed statues Irgzid said that originally Laogzed was depicted with just one head. Irgzid offered to take the Crimson Fist to where his people would meet the Lords of Dread to trade for the Shadow Pearls. After a quick debate the Crimson Fist agree to his suggestions.
The group descend into the pit in the floor of the room, which leads down into tunnels beneath the earth. Irgzid leads them for miles through the tunnels, as they go they discuss Ajax's recent actions in alerting the Troglodytes. Ajax defends his actions but does agree to discuss such tactical decisions with the rest of the group beforehand in future.

The Burning Pools

Eventually a strange smell heralds the approach of the 'Burning Pools'. An area full of pools of acid where the air was full of poisonous fumes. They are informed they must hold their breath as they pass through.

Trickles of water emerge from a crack in the ceiling of this cavern, splitting into numerous rivulets that roll slowly down stalactites and drip off into the deep, milky pools that dot the floor of this chamber.

However when they reach the cave it is inhabited by a strange, inky ball of ooze that Kapek identifies as a huge Black Pudding. The Crimson Fist open fire with missile weapons and the creature approaches and then shoots out a jet of black acid. Ajax charges it but is grappled and Lorric, Sparky and Kapek pile in. Sparky is also grappled but thanks to his 'Freedom of Movement' spell he slips out of the creatures hold with ease. With the whole group attacking, the Black Pudding is quickly slain.

The Hanging Forest
This seventy foot wide cavern drops away into a black gulf below. A forest of stalactites hangs from the ceiling, some dropping away out of sight into the darkness. A ledge, its surface glistening with moisture and mould, winds down the inner wall of the cavern, a descending path of dubious safety.
Once a volcanic shaft, this cavernous cavern drops 400 feet into a rubble strewn field of petrified trees of all sizes, subsumed by the earth in some geologic upheaval and subsequently petrified. Chunks of shattered branches litter the floor, but a number of the logs are surprisingly life-like.

Having passed through the cave the path curves down along a ledge on the side of a 400 foot high cliff. The Crimson Fist head down and reach the bottom and pass on to a petrified forest. Suddenly a sticky strand whips out of the darkness and grabs Kapek, Ajax, Mirra and Sparky. The strand appears to have come from out of a petrified tree.
Lorric and Ajax charge the monster as Kapek is dragged in closer. Ajax is bitten by the creature. Sparky hurls a lightning charged javelin into combat, unfortunately straight at Lorric, who snatches it out of the air and instinctively hurls it straight back at Sparky but luckily it bounces off Sparky's armour.
The creature is defeated and the remains of its victims searched for loot. The Crimson Fist decide to rest in the Petrified Forest for the rest of the night, as they think it is probably around 11 o'clock.

Next morning as the Crimson Fist are having breakfast Kapek suddenly yells a warning, six Hook Horrors are approaching. Lorric notices a shape hovering at the back, behind the aberrations and suddenly all their magic ceases to work.
As the creatures close in Oz puts a arrow through one's eye, instantly killing it. As the battle begins all the Crimson Fist feel their capabilities limited by the lack of magic. Mira can't use her bardic abilities, Sparky can't cast spells or produce magical javelins and Ajax finds himself unable to shift.

*Ajax comments
Ajax is horrified by what effects the Beholder's anti-magic ray has on him. No magic means no magic weapons, no healing from his healing belt or potions, less armour but most disastrously no abilities from his native ability to Shift or from the talents of the Warshaper he had learned.

Suddenly from behind the creatures several brightly coloured beams lance out and hit Kapek, Ajax and Lorric fortunately they all manage to resist the effects but illuminated by the beams the group see the mysterious creature for what it is, a Beholder !
However with its use of its other abilities the creature has dropped its anti-magic zone. Sparky casts 'Flame Strikes' on it.Lorric and Ajax tumble through the Hook Horrors and slam into the Beholder. Kapek lowers his head and charges Reaver straight through the middle of the Hook Horrors to join in the attack.
With all three of them attacking it the Beholder lasts mere seconds. Then caught between the two halves of the group the Hook Horrors are soon cut down.

The Cerulean Curtain
Having rested and healed the group push on for another 16 miles of tunnels. Eventually they reach the 'Cerulean Curtain' which leads into the domain of the Lords of Dread.

The tunnel widens into a large cavern nearly two hundred feet in diameter. A shimmering curtain of rippling blue light bisects this cavern from left to right, from floor to ceiling. The light resembles a translucent membrane that swirls and sparkles like the surface of a pond. The cavern on the other side is visible through this sheen, and the tunnel proceeds around a corner at the far end. Shapes and figures seem to ripple and writhe along this curtain of cerulean light, and now and then these shape pass by slowly enough to be identified as tribal warriors in full battle regalia, their mouths open in silent screams. A low whispering fills the room, but the cave is otherwise silent.
As you pass through the curtain, the whispering rises sharply to an almost painful roar, as of a thousand people shouting as many different phrases, it then falls silent again as you emerge from the other side.

Fallam Isle

2011-01-24T19:47:00.012Z

Sar 21st Nymm, 998 Y.K.

11.30 a.m.

Having finally reached Solport the Crimson Fist make straight for the local inn, 'The Blue Lobster'. There Lorric, in deference to the fact the group now has three extra members, orders 17 beers. As they drink the group inquire about the island and are warned by the innkeeper that people who have gone into the local forest to travel to the other village on the island have not been returning. Lorric naturally takes this as a challenge.

Captain Nosechewer joins them and informs them that repairs will be difficult because the locals can't get timber from the forest. This confirms the Crimson Fist in their determination to investigate the problem.

Deciding to scout first Kapek takes Hurricane, his faithful Glidewing, with Lorric along as an observer and begins to circle the island. They have travelled around a quarter of the way around the edge of the island when they spot a ship wrecked on one of the beaches. Leading up from the beach they notice paths chewed through the woods. Following the trail of devastation inland they find the other village, Selford, completely destroyed.

Searching the immediate area they come across the source of all this destruction a huge multi-headed monster, that has left a trail of slime wherever it has gone. Kapek decides to head back to inform the others.

After briefing the other members Mirra identifies the creature as a Gulguthhydra. Lorric and Kapek take to the air again and the others set off on foot to deal with the creature.

Kapek and Lorric streak ahead on Hurricane and soon spot the creature. Kapek swings in close to the creature to let Lorric have a crack at it with his sling and then when it persues them to draw them to the rest of the Crimson Fist. Somewhat to their surprise though, the creature flees towards the sea. Kapek takes Hurricane in closer for a better shot but at fifty feet out they gag on the creature's vile stench. Hurricane vomits up half-digested fish in distress and Kapek is forced to quickly pull him up and away from the creature.

Seeing the creature continuing to the sea Kapek takes up position a safe distance away and he and Lorric open fire. The creature is unable to defend itself against these flying foes and they whittle it down until it is slain.

*Ajax comments
Selfish Gits!

After a fruitless search for survivors in Selford the Crimson Fist head to the shipwreck. The ship is easily identified as 'The Siren's Teat' a notorious pirate vessel.

The lingering stench of Golguthhydra hangs around the ship. The crew appear to have been eaten by the creature, which appears to have been kept in the ships hold. Though down in the hold there appears to have only been ropes to secure any captives. Kapek and Ajax study the signs intently, eventually coming to the conclusion a prisoner was held in the hold who then transformed into the Gulguthhydra and slaughtered the crew.

They then, of course, loot the place! Among the money and magic items they also find maps, a small wooden coffer containing three vials of red liquid and the water damaged Captains Log.

They return to Solport and report to the Mayor. He is clearly terrified to learn 'The Siren's Teat' is beached on his island and with a little persuasion admits to paying the pirates protection money. He is also makes mention of 'The Monks of the Dire Hunger' who share the pirates secret island. A group who believe they must eat their own kind in order to advance and purchase victims from the pirates.

The Mayor takes the news of Selford with a heavy heart he asks the group to search the sea caves where survivors may have fled. The group agrees to head out tomorrow and do just that.

Captain Nose-Crusher has heard of 'The Siren's Teat' (indeed has been attacked by it) and is very interested in salvaging it. He also identifies the maps as being the charts that show the location of Scuttlecove, including the secret route through the reefs to it. The ching of gold is distinctly heard as everyone realizes how much this would be worth to the Brellish navy.

Sul 22nd Nymm, 998 Y.K.

8.30 a.m.

The next morning the Crimson Fist set out with two sailors in tow. The sailors look over 'The Sirens Teat' and confirm its only lightly damaged. They then head on to the sea caves where they find four terrified villagers who they escort back to Solport.

Mirra eventually manages to decipher the last couple of entries in the log of 'The Sirens Teat'. There is reference that it is delivering a special package from an unknown alchemist to the matron of Porphyry house, in return for a 'week of freebies'. (Which convinces the group that Porphyry house is a high-class brothel).

The last entry tells of the Captain finding a beautiful stowaway, who he notes is vaguely familiar. Maybe he knew her from Porphyry house? The group conclude it must have been this captive tied up in the hold. But how she became a Golguthhydra remains a mystery.

9.30 p.m.

Later that evening, once the setting sun is low on the horizon and the eastern side of the island is in full shade, Kapek is on watch and notices a shoal of around twenty Sahuagin coming in to Solport harbour. The Crimson Fist ready their weapons but are aware the Mayor has contact with them so don't attack. The Mayor marches down to the water-line to greet the visitors. The lead Sahuagin, a bright yellow priestess, demands to talk with one of the new-comers and Kapek heads over to talk to them.

She turns out to be from the 'Boiling Chasm' tribe a rival clan to the one who attacked them earlier, who she identifies as 'The Cult of the Forgotten Tide'. This cult, she claims, are a breakaway sect of her own tribe, the Priestess claims to have heard voices from the depths that led her to retrieve the 'Sceptre of the Dolurrh Trench', an artefact with the power to kill and animate with it's ghostly blue light. The heretic Priestess claims that she speaks directly with Holashner and does his bidding. Which explains the answer the Sahuagin gave under the 'Speak with Dead' spell.

*Ajax comments
Again knowing such powerful entities are talking an interest in them is worrrying. Though very satisfying to the ego.

She quizzes Kapek on the attack and the events at Bluescar lighthouse. In return she offers advice on how the Ectha can be recognized.