Author Archives: Steve

(8) Goodmonth 23, 582

• After dealing with the undead guardians the group moved inside. They were confronted by more ruins, and the center of this cavernous room seemed as though it was blown open and there was a noxious green fume drifting from the hole.
• The group inspected the area finding a small room seemingly a sleeping area long past of some kind. Unfortunately the area wasn’t uninhabited. There were more undead here, similar to the previously encountered undead.
• Unfortunately the group was a little over confident coming here and not being prepared for one of there number to fall. Eligos fell in combat, and they weren’t prepared with the means to bring him back from the otherside. While Donnor can cast the spells, he didn’t have the prerequisite items to cast that spell.
• So after entering the next room, and fighting the undead in there, Barnin and Donnor decided to leave Eligos in the small library that they had just cleared out. Being the book worm he was, his soul should be at ease there. They were just hoping to find the means to bring him back here in the ziggurat.
• After clearing out the area Barnin and Donnor were induced with another vision. This time they saw a human man appear at one of the desks nearby. A strange gray-skinned humanoid creature with six arms stands at his shoulder. The man studies a collection of worn and pitted bronze disks arrayed on the desk before him. Faint etchings adorn the plates, and it seems as if the alien figures and symbols writhe together at the behest of some sinister will. The gray creature points to one of the plates, and a look of sudden comprehension blooms on the man’s face. The man, the creature, and the plates then fade away, and are gone.

(8) Goodmonth 23, 582

• After taking stock of the situation the group scaled the seemingly seamless wall that surrounded the ziggurat. Once the entered what would have been the ancient city the group saw a vision…
• The ruins of Kuluth-Mar seem to be suffused with a strange taint that hovers just beyond the edges of reality. Like an oily stain spreading over a pool, a vision wavers in the air. Within the tainted energy is a man seated on a great throne made of green stone. He wears ornate plate armor, and a black circlet rests on his brow. Both the circlet and armor are adorned with silver symbols – an overlapping skull and scythe. The vision expands, widening its scope to reveal that the throne Is located at the apex of the large ziggurat and in the shadow of the spire. The spire itself gleams with flashes of white light, and at its peak is balanced a fifteen-foot-tall black stone monolith shaped like a trapezoid. Around the ziggurat spreads a thriving city, its streets paved in white stone, its buildings painted and whole. Thousands of figures have gathered in the large open plaza that surrounds the ziggurat, all facing the figure seated at its center. Their cries are a rhythmic chant, surging like waves on the monolith’s shore. As these cries rise in volume, threatening to shake the jungle apart, the vision fades and is replaced by the ruined city of today.
• Again, against their better judgement, the group continued forward. Once inside the ziggurat, the group realized that it wasn’t vacant, it had guardians.
• After dealing with the group of guardians the group continued to push forward and explore this haven of evil.
  

(8) Goodmonth 22, 582

• After the items were chosen the adventurers wasted no time in deciding to continue their journey.
• Tenser took us to a picture on the wall that seemed extraordinarily life like. The painting looked like a very large pyramid in a jungle setting.
• Tenser explained that the painting was a teleportation device of sorts. We could enter the painting and arrive where we wished to be at Kyuss’s old strong hold.
• With a deep breath the intrepid adventurers stepped forward and were immediately sent to the jungle surrounding the ancient city and Ziggurat.
• As the group approached the ruined city Kuluth-mar, suddenly the thick air waved and shimmered and changed to show the city whole again. Kyuss sat on a great green throne atop the ziggurat. There where thousands of followers chanting rhythmically, worshiping their leader.
• Then as soon as the vision appeared, it vanished. And they were looking at a ruined city with a ziggurat at the center surrounded by a formidable wall made from obsidian.
• Against their better judgement the group continued toward the ziggurat, hoping to once and for all end the plague of green worms that seemed to be growing into a real threat to the world.
  

(8) Goodmonth 22, 582

• Once we gained an audience with Tenser the group was in awe. All except for Eligos. He was happy to see his former mentor, and was greeted warmly by the Archmage.
• After introductions were complete, the group began to spin the tale of their adventures thus far and everything that had lead them to the gates of Mage Point.
• With some brief consideration Tenser told us of one of his order that had investigated the ruins of the former strong hold of Kyuss. After his investigations he returned a changed man, and left again shortly there after never to be seen again.
• Tenser also gave us some advice and assistance. He told us we recovered the rod of law piece so it was now ours, by right. But, other worldly beings would be and have already been drawn to it. So he told us he would keep it here to keep the piece safe from evil clutches, and in return he would grant us each a magical item that could assist us on our quest.
• The group was enamored by the vast magical item collection that Tensor possessed. They each quickly found items to their liking that would assist them on their way. Barnin picked out Mithral Plate Armor of Speed, Donnor accepted Gloves of Dexterity, and Eligos traded his rod of Lesser Empower Spell, for a Rod of Empower Spell.
  

(8) Goodmonth 22, 582

• After their affairs were concluded, the group teleported ahead to Magepoint just outside of the town proper, knowing it wouldn’t be a good idea to teleport into the middle of the city itself. Almost immediately after arriving, the group was approached by a group of demons. Two bone devils and two barbed devils as Eligos called them. Donnor immediately cast Holy Word in an attempt to banish the demons back to their plane. The spell affected both of the barbed devils, but the group had to deal with the bone devils by other means. After a fierce but short battle, the group prevailed, and continued toward town.
• As they approached town, a group of guards hailed them. Godwin, seemingly the leader of the group, greeted us warmly and asked us what business we had in the area. After telling him that we needed an audience with Tenser, he chuckled and said of course we did.
• We were then escorted into town and told that the best place for us to stand by while waiting for word would be The Weary Shield. So the group did so. Shortly after arriving, Celeste showed up. She was thrilled to see Eligos again, and filled us in on some of the finer points of current happenings in the area.
• Waiting just a short while longer, Cymria, an elf, introduced herself as Tenser’s confidant, and said she would escort us to see Tenser. Celeste joined us from there.
  

(8) Goodmonth 22, 582

• Now having the piece to the Rod of Law they sought, Eligos teleported them back to Diamond Lake where they could look through the items they found and make plans on how to proceed in continuing the quest to stop the Ebon Triad.
• Once in Diamond lake the group went to the Emporium for refreshments and discuss recent events. Allistun’s research filled him in on the items that we found in Ikozials tomb with the Rod piece and his remains. The long sword was Sword of Aaqa, the short sword was The Lightning Sword, Zosiel’s Diadem, and the ring and all their individual powers where explained to the group.
• Allistun and Elligos decided that our next most logical step was to seek out their teacher and mentor Tensor in Mage Point. Both Barnin and Donnor were dumbfounded when they heard that Tensor was the Archmage that taught not one, but both of their friends how to follow their paths into the art of magic. Of course both of the mages dismissed this as not a big deal.
• So with out much delay the group teleported back to Greyhawk to pawn any looted items they weren’t in need of, and place orders with Penander for any other items they were looking for.
  

(8) Goodmonth 21, 582

• He took the disk and placed it in the recess and sure enough the pylon shook slightly and began to rise. It ascended slowly toward the ceiling. Barnin began to have a hunch they were on the right track and then wondered why there was no door. As he neared, it popped in his head that it was probably an illusion used again to thwart would be raiders. Firmly believing he was right he stood his ground as the pylon move upward. When he reached the what would be the point of contact he went through into a new room.
• Barnin then moved the group to the pylon and up into the newly found room. The new room had a sarcophagus floating in the middle of the room once they were all in the room and began moving about and inspecting what they thought was a demonic statue turned out to be more than a statue as it instantly multiplied using the spell like ability mirror image. Eligos knowing all thing demonic said, that’s an oculus demon. The group then attacked.
• After casting any potent spells they had remaining, they quickly realized that they were in no shape to fight such a powerful creature, so they fled to fight another day.
• The returned the pylon back to its original position and made their way back to the ledge where they camped so that they could be fully rested to face the demonic beast. After recouping and regaining all their used spells the group returned and Donnor was able to simply banish the demon with his banishment spell.
• The group then turned their attention to the whole reason they enter this accused cairn, Ikozials tomb now stood floating in front of them, with it’s guardian sent back to its plain they could now see if the piece or the Rod of Law was here. They found a long sword, and short sword, a ring, crown, and the piece of the Rod of Law that they came for.
  

(8) Goodmonth 21, 582

• After the huge stone doors swung open the group saw an enormous open chamber with large pylons standing in a path-like manner. As they approached the open door way they hurt and felt what seemed to be a hurricane force wind blowing in the room. Donnor had an idea to cast windwalk on Barnin and he could carry the group accross the space where there seemed to be no floor. After the spell was cast Barnin picked up Eligos to begin making his way accross the open air. A soon as he crossed the threshold he was hit head on with the forceful swirling wind. He was soon blown off course. He had to learn how to fight the winds force and continue walking. After fighting as the wind with all his strength he and Donnor saw in the same moment 2 huge wisp like shapes rushing there way.
• The air elemental’s attack was swift, but Barnin was able to get Eligos safely back to the landing before he could be knocked from his grasp and begin falling into nothing. From there the fight ensued. Spells where cast and weapons flew until finally the group defeated the Elementals.
• The wind died once the Elementals attacked. So the way across the room was much easier now. Well everyone except Barnin who carried the group across the room the the ledge on the other side.
• Once safely there the began inspecting the area. They inspected for what seemed like for every, but after just a short time they realized that this wasn’t the way forward, it was just a carved replica of the previous door to throw off would be tomb raiders. So Barnin figured since he still had use of the windwalk spell he would go inspect the individual pylons. Finally getting to the tallest standing near the ceiling in the middle of the room, he found a circular disk shaped recess in the stone. It hit him that the crystal disk they had used to open the other seal would fit in the recess.
  

(8) Goodmonth 21, 582

• As the group started making their way back they were discussing their situation. Allustan asked if we had dealt with the portal guardian, we said that we more or less snuck by and out ran him. So the group then came to the decision that it would be best to sleep here in the upper level, rather than going all the way back and facing that creature as low on spells as we were. After the evening of rest the group finished getting themselves in fighting form once again. We really were going to have to be on our game if we were going to be able to enter Icosiol’s tomb.
• As a group they moved through the complex back to the waterfall. Their way was much more challenging now that they did not have the shadow spider here to transport them past all of the pitfalls and traps that had been left behind in this place.
• Once the group made it to the waterfall, Eligos cast Feather Fall and the group made the first of many leaps to make their way back down to the corridor that they didn’t follow up the first time they came down the waterfall.
• Sure enough, after only a short exploration of this corridor, stairs to a doorway were found. Following the stairs they stood by and watched as Allustun raised the Seal of Law, and spoke the needed words, and the doors swung heavily open.
  

(8) Goodmonth 21, 582

• Once the group reached the bottom of the waterfall Donnor used one of his newer monk ability abundant step. Using that, in the blink of an eye the group was back at the top of the waterfalls. Just where they were before flying down to face the true ghoul.
• Now being back up here they remembered that the shadow spider got them to this point, and they didn’t know how to get back. So the started down an ice covered hall. They were immediately attacked by what they thought was a statue of an air duke. Soon after the battle begain Eligos cast feeblemind and the illusion was dispelled and they saw that they were fighting an inevitable. It was still a long though battle, but it was one that they were victorious. After Donnor healed everyone they picked over what was left of the creature, and surveyed their surroundings. A little over half way down the hall they found a hole in the floor under the ice, and the end of the hall was a dead end. There was another door, but all that was contained there was a winter maelstrom instead of a floor. They assumed that was keeping the red waters of the river that flowed in through the hole in the floor frozen.
• The group started chip away at the ice looking for a way past this hallway. After spending some time chipping at the ice they realized that this wasn’t going to end well if they continued. They didn’t know how far the would have to go through a water filled tunnel before finding the other side. and they didn’t know if the slush would start freezing around them as they were trying to make more of an advance through the tunnel. So they decided the best course of action would be to wait for the shadow spider to return looking for them. They waited for just a couple hours before the spider came asking if his foe had been taken care of.
• After a curt conversation the spider brought us back to the room where we were originally ambushed, and brought Allistun back to us. He then demanded the disk. We tried everything we could think of to reason with the spider. But there was no reasoning with him. The spider attacked Barnin being that he was the one with the disc. Barnin was hit hard, and poisoned with toxin that paralyzed him. Allistun cast light so that there would be no shadows for the spider to flee too, and the group battle with the spider on the one plane alone. At the end of the fierce battle the group healed up, and decided to head back though the portal to the cairne to rest before continuing on down here.
  

(8) Goodmonth 21, 582

• After a short exploration of the cave the group found their true ghoul. He was there with two spawns of Kyuss seemingly looking for something. As the group approached he turned his attention to them, and settled the skeletons as they seemed to be ready to attack. Barnin figured it best to try and find a solution with out fighting. But after a short conversation with the undead caster, Barnin learned that he was interested in bringing about the age of worms. This would remove the living from the surface world and allow his kind to claim it for their own. This really didn’t sit that well with the group, so after a short fight, the true ghoul and his minions where no more. Surprisingly, Barnin didn’t run like a girl when dealing with the spawn of Kyuss this time.
• With the true ghoul dead they search his belongings, and body finding a crystal disc. No more had Barnin picked up the disc to inspect it when 4 djinn appeared intent on keeping the disc from those unworthy. Barnin tried to reason with the creatures, but he was finding that there wasn’t going to be much reasoning taking place down in these caverns. After a cone of cold from Eligos and a flame strike from Donnor, it only took a few swings of the sword to end the djinn. And once again the group studied the crystal disc. Moving to begin making their accent up through the caverns.
  

(8) Goodmonth 21, 582

• The group stepped to the edge of the first drop inspecting the area to see what was the best approach. They all agreed that flying would be in their best interest. Eligos had enough fly spells prepared just in case such an instance arose. So after quickly casting the fly spells and getting a short practice with their “wings” they were off over the first drop. Making good time diving downward the group didn’t even notice another group of the air warriors waiting in ambush.
• The air warriors quickly moved in behind the group to attack. Two of the elementals attacked Barnin while the other two flew at Donnor and Eligos, one each. Eligos was able to charm one of the creatures so that it stopped its attack on us, evening the odds slightly. When one of the other elementals saw this he attacked his own, not knowing why he was defending these interlopers. After a short but fierce battle they elementals fell, and the one charmed one returned to his duties, not to be seen again.
• After just a couple more minutes the group safely made the rest of the decent to the bottom of the lowest chamber where they could see the red water pooling and flowing away into another cavern. There was an eerie pale green light reflecting off the walls deeper in the cave. They readied themselves for conflict by casting death ward on the party, along with spell immunity. They weren’t sure what they were facing in a true ghoul, but they were as ready as they thought they could be.
  

(8) Goodmonth 21, 582

• After returning to the upper levels of the cairn to rest the group returned to the room in which they had been ambushed by the spider to finalize their agreement. They walked through the shadowy spiderwebs in the room knowing this would let the spider know we had entered the room. The shadow spider arrived in short order. The group reconfirmed the agreement that if they were to kill the mage that dwelt in the caverns below the cairn, Allistun would be returned to them. The group knew that had little choice because none of them had the ability to walk in the shadow realm yet.
• The shadow spider then led them toward the river that fed down into the lower caverns. As they were approaching the spider told the group that there were earth dwelling creatures ahead. He said he would “deal with them,” if the group wished it. Looking over the situation, and not sure what he was talking about, the group agreed that the spider should “deal” with them. The group watched as the spider crept up and ripped the creatures to pieces. After seeing the beasts the group thought it was for the best that they didn’t try to fight the creatures on such a dangerously small bridge with a long plunge below.
• After following the red river a short distance farther, the group came to the first of what they were told were many drops leading to the bottom. This is where the spider believed we would find his mage. With that the spider vanished back to the shadow realm.
  

(8) Goodmonth 20, 582

• So the group pushed forward coming to a slop the headed down. As they decended the realized that the floor had been coated with something and started loosing their traction and slid down the slope. Once in the room where the slope ended, looking around it looked as though all of the walls had images of shadows on them. Suddenly a giant spider came out of no where, literally, and snatched Barnin up were he stood, Barnin got an attack off, but it wasn’t enough to deter the beast from disappearing with him.
• Barnin continued to struggle, but in his current state, he was little more than a child in the arms of the Shadow Spider. They seemed to be traveling incredibly quickly through what looked somewhat like the cairn they entered, then they weren’t there anymore, and he was be unceremoniously dumped in what looked like the spiders nest. Before Barnin could protest the spider was gone, leaving him alone to ponder what to do next.
• In less than a minute the spider returned to Eligos and Donner. And attempted to make an accord with them. If they dealt with the Mage that was pestering him, we could have our friend back. They explained that they were just here for Allustan, and described him, the spider told them that Allustan was just in the next room trapped. The quickly hurried to help Allustan.
• As they entered the next room the saw that Allistan was indeed trapped, in what seemed to be a giant sphere of lightning. After a short brain storming, Donnor came up with the idea to cast spell immunity on himself so that the lightning wouldn’t harm him. As he entered the sphere, he did so very cautiously, still not sure that the lightning was a spell effect, in which case the spell he cast to protect himself would have been of little use. But he entered the sphere and wasn’t harmed, and as soon as he touched Allistan to pull him out of the sphere the globe disapated. And Allustan began to regain his ability to move. Barnin healed him just incase he was injured from the lightning globe, but after a few minutes he seemed to be fine. After being updated on their current situation, he agreed to stay behind with the spider while the group left the cairne to recover their strength, and to get Barnin back into good health before they would be able to help the spider deal with this undead wizard.
  

(8) Goodmonth 20, 582

• Once Eligos and Donnor described the Abyssal Ghoul that was inside the portal, Barnin was loathe to have to return there to get out of this cairne. He pushed the creature from his mind so that the could focus at the task at hand.
• As they entered the next room the felt a strong head wind coming from seemingly nowhere. Yet there were what appeared to be some odd puffs of smoke or vapor that hung in the air. Suddenly the vapors attacked. They were Belkers.
• The belkers proved to be a little more than pests as the group dealt with them, and they were happy to get out of the deafening wind.
• The next room had traps a plenty, so after discovering some of them the group thought it better to carry on, and not try to mess with too much down here.
• Unfortunately the gems in the eyes of the statue in the next room were too much for Barnin to pass up, and as he attempted to pry them from the statue, he triggered a trap that made him feel weaker than he ever had before in his life. And after a short examination Donnor knew that he didn’t have the right spells prepared to help his friend, and let him know that this effect would have to stay with him for the rest of the day.
• Having only been down here for a short time, as a group they decided to carry on even with Barnin in his debilitated state.
  

(8) Goodmonth 20, 582

• Awakening the next morning rested, if nothing else, the group talked to Tilgast to see about barrowing another group of horses. He insisted we didn’t pay for the steeds that had perished the day before, as we had dealt with the towns dragon infestation. The group assured him these ones would be safe as we didn’t forsee an outcome where they would die this night.
• An uneventful ride to the cairne was just what the group had hoped for that evening, and were blessed with at least that. Upon their arrival they tied off the steeds and prepared to travel back underground and through the portal to an untold place.
• Everything was as it had been on the previous evening. They arrived in front of the portal, after only a moments hesitation Barnin tumbled through the doorway ready to avoid any tentacle like thing that would try to attack him. He went through without anything attempting to attack him, and laughed slightly at the notion that they were frightened of the door. The area on the other side of the portal seemed much like the hallway he had just left on the other side of the door. All he had to do now was stand and wait.
• When Eligos attempted to do the same that he had just witnessed Barnin do. As he approached though, a tentacle flared out and attempted to grab him. Not being as agile as Barnin, Eligos was hit by the tentacle, and felt the creature he now faced inside the portal try to pull him in. He was able to just barely pull himself away from the Abyssal Ghoul to just make it out the other side of the portal. He tumbled out land on the floor in a heap in front of Barnin visibly shaken, saying what in the world was that?
• As Donnor approached the portal to tumble through the tentacle reached through at him. He deftly avoided it and tumbled into the portal. As he passed through he saw the horrific beast. He came through unscathed, and met the other 2 waiting for him on the other side.
  

(8) Goodmonth 19, 582

• After a brief conversation with Tilgast, the group was able to get the steeds they need and head out to the Cairne that same morning.
• The group made good time to the Cairne as they knew the way, and didn’t stop to invesitgate the mining house, because that was destroyed.
• They arrived at the Cairne to find everything silent. After dismounting and prepairing to enter the Cairne, Donnor caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He noticed, and warned the others just in time to avoid the acid spray from the Black Dragon.
• After a short battle the group was victorious. But it wasn’t with out setback. Barnin fell during the battle. And only through Kords grace and Donnors link with his god, Barnin was healed. Elistan also felt the Dragons power being drained of his strength.
• The group adventured on looking to see what was different in the Cairne. It didn’t take long to find what used to be a dead end had been dug out to see a new portal that was revealed. The group approached the portal only to have black tentacles flair out at them. As a group they didn’t know where the portal lead or what it was that was attacking them out of the door. So they decided that it would be best to be complete recouperated and ready to face anything before they entered this doorway.
• The group have still found no trace of Allustan down here. And now they will have to put off finding their old friend for another day.
  

(8) Goodmonth 19, 582

• The group returned to the surface, and told the gaurds that the Alkilith had been dealt with. And to relay the message the group was now heading to Diamond Lake again to attempt to end the Age Of Worms.
• So with no delay Eligos cast teleport and the group was wisked away to Diamond Lake, to arrive in front of Allustan’s house. Sadly when the group arrived at Diamond Lake they found that Allistans house, along with a large portion of the town had been destroyed. As the group stood and surveyed the area, Eligos was the one that surmised this was the work of a dragon, a black dragon to be specific.
• The group moved through out the city trying to find out what happened. They got answers from Venelle’s. Her shop was one of the buildings still standing in Diamond Lake so they headed there. After a question and answer session the group learned that a Black Dragon had indeed attacked the village but no one knows why. They would most certainly be appreciative to have the dragon dealt with.
• So the group headed to Tilgast’s to get some horses to head out to the Whispering Carine to see if they could find Allistan or at least get to the bottom of what was going on in Diamond Lake.
  

(8) Goodmonth 19, 582

• After praying to Kord, and having a quick breakfast, Barnin and Donor head to Eligos’s house. Once there they get right to business. And raise Eligos’ man servant.
• Once the servant was awake Donnor healed him. Once Eligos made him a cup of tea, and started feeling normal again he recited what had happened. He said that several men entered the home looking for items involved in the age of worms. And then they attacked and killed him. He also relayed that there was a letter that came in the day before from Eligos’s old friend Allustan.
• After retrieving the missive, Eligos reads the letter. Allustan is summoning us back to Diamond Lake. He said that there was a previously undiscovered passage in the Whispering Cairn.
• So being that the group had already promised the Lord Mayor that they would deal with the Alkilith that was under the arena.
• So the group returned to the Arena after Eligos’ affairs were in order. After a short conversation with the gaurds on duty, the group headed down into the Coenoby. Once down they used the rope to climb back down into the hidden catacombs they had found. And headed straight for the Alkilith.
• Donnor cast Banishment when arriving in the area, and the demon was sent back to the abyss from where it came. They explored on, only to find that there wasn’t anything left to find.
  

(8) Goodmonth 18, 582

• Moving on into the next room the group came upon a demon non of them had ever faced before. Eligos later figured out that the beast was an Alkilith. For lack of a better description, the creature resembles a pile of garbage. After what seemed like and eternity facing the monster the group decided that discretion would be the better part of valor.
• When leaving the new found lair and reaching the surface the group was faced with Greyhawks militia attempting to restore order in the area. Donnor seeing that there were many wounded people in the arena took to the stands in an attempt to help as many people as he could. Mean while Barnin and Eligos talked with the Lord Mayor in an attempt to figure out what Raknian was up to.
• They came to the conclusion that they needed to rest and regroup to face the demon. Eligos said it would be a good idea to head to his house so that they could research the demon to get any information they could on defeating it. When we arrived at Eligos’s, we find that his house has been ransacked. And his man servant has been killed.
• So Barnin and Donnor help Eligos straighten up his house and prepare the body to be raised. They decide to meet again tomorrow morning at Eligos’s how when Donnor will raise the man servant so that they can find out what happened.
  

(8) Goodmonth 18, 582

• Both groups immediately turned on the Giant Worm. Donnor summoned another creature to attack while Barnin attack head on, and Eligos started firing fireballs at the beast. The fireballs seemed to be very effective because of the rod of empowerment that Eligos picked up in our adventure before the games.
• Thankfully we got the best of the creature before it did too much damage. Once the worm was down we attempted to pursue Raknian who fled amidst the chaos that ensued in the arena.
• The groups first thought was that he would go to his palace for safety, but a quick search there yielded no results. So back to the Coenoby the group went. Searching high and low ending up in the center where they found the large glass dome shattered, coming to the only logical conclusion the group looked over the edge to find that there was what looked like the worms home with tunnels leading away from the chamber.
• So with little fan fare the group threw a rope over the edge and climbed down into the pit. And started exploring. The were quickly greeted by an undead woman, (or as best they could tell, was a woman) Barnin quickly dispatched the fiend. Once it was down, the group attempted to search the corpse thinking that this my be Ekaym’s sister finally found. The group found no hard evidence, but the thought is still lingering that it was her.
• Moving on from that room the group found more undead. These were Spawn of Kyuss that we had encountered before at Blackwell Keep. Having dealt with these before still didn’t stop Barnin from stopping the magical fear from overcoming him and sending him into a terrible panic fleeing. But the group quickly dealt with the fiends, and Barnin overcame his irrational fear of these undead, and they moved on.
  

(8) Goodmonth 18, 582

• The next morning when Ekaym arrived, Barnin relayed what happened the previous night, and begrudgingly gave him the Haversack filled with everything he had found. Barnin also let him know in no uncertain terms that he was to have that bag returned to him. They also gave him a list of items the group would need for that afternoon’s match against Auric’s Warband.
• The rest of the morning was filled with plotting how to take down Auric’s Warband. The flesh golems, according to Eligos, would be a handful. In the end, we decided that straight-forward confrontation would be the best avenue of approach, as it had worked up to now, and if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.
• So the groups were escorted into the arena just shy of noon. Wishing each other luck on the trip up, each group began making its final preparations before the battle would begin. As the group entered, Barnin noticed Raknian looked very relaxed, smug even. “Not the usual reaction for someone that will soon be led to the gallows”, was Barnin’s next thought, but he figured he had better focus on the matters at hand.
• The battle began as others had; Eligos cast Stoneskin on Barnin, knowing he would be the first to run into the fray. And each member of the team drank a potion of Bull’s Strength and Barkskin to assist them. Once the match began, Eligos cast Haste on Barnin while he sprinted forward, and Donnor brought a celestial dire lion into the arena to battle their foes.
• Suddenly, a massive worm burst through the ground. The entire arena shook with its coming, and the cheers turned to screams as the creature had to span more than 20 feet across and stood well above the ground. Studying the body of the beast, you could tell that most of the creature was still below the surface.
  

(8) Goodmonth 17, 582

• After the battle, the group was ushered back underground. They stood by and waited for the other two groups to face each other in the arena. Not to too many’s surprise, but the fans’ displeasure, One of Us withdrew from the tourney in front of the crowd. Coming back down the lift, One of Us headed directly to their room.
• Now that the match for the championship had been decided, it was time for the group to head to their room and make preparations for that evening. Ekaym joined the group in their room, and after pats on the back, the group got down to business. They decided that the best course of action would be for Barnin to go into Raknian’s palace alone. Ekaym would pick up some supplies, two potions of invisibility, and two vials of powder that would throw the dogs off his scent once he was inside.
• So after resting and recouping energy spent in the arena, midnight came and Barnin set out on his mission. The plan was to go it much the same as the group had just a few nights earlier. Donnor cast a symbol of sleep on a small stone that Barnin would use to render the guards unconscious. After knocking out the guards, and picking the door locks to get in, Barnin used an invisibility potion. When the dogs came near he began using the vial of powder to confuse them. Everything went as planned. Barnin got passed the dogs and began exploring.
• There wasn’t much to be seen until Barnin found Raknian’s study. After picking the door’s lock and the desks’ locks, Barnin found a treasure trove of documents and ledgers pertaining to Raknian’s evil dealings. Thankful for his Heward’s Handy Haversack, he cleaned the desk out. He knew that he had everything he needed to incriminate Raknian, but he still wanted to find Ekaym’s sister. As he was creeping through the rest of the palace he came face to face with Raknian.
• He was torn between breaking this illusion and throttling him, and just standing aside and remaining invisible. His better judgement won out, and he remained hidden, and looked for another way out. As luck would have it, he found stairs leading down to what he found was an armory stocked with everything from ceremonial weapons to what he could only assume were fantastic weapons built for destruction. After the quick appraisal he grabbed what looked to be a prized dagger, as he needed one, that should be easily recognizable.
• He found a barred door to the rear of the armory, beyond was a dusty hallway that lead to another barred door. After unbarring the second door, and a quick study found that Barnin had made his way back to the original cellar that leads back under the arena. Still wanting to find Ekaym’s sister he crept back up the stairs. But he found that Raknian was suspicious of someone being in the house, and was actively searching with the dogs. So again using his better judgment he returned to the Coenoby. Leaving Raknian’s palace, he found the guards as he left them.
• Arriving back in his room, he and his companions went through all the paperwork and journals Barnin collected. Without question there was more than enough information here to implicate Raknian in his unholy deeds involving the sinister plot the group had been investigating.
  

(8) Goodmonth 17, 582

• Not letting their surprise be known, the group took action. Eligos caste Haste and Stoneskin on Barnin, who immediately ran into the fray, while Donnor summoned a celestial dire lion to battle the beast. Barnin struck true when attacking the beast, but was immediately wrapped up in one of its many tentacles. Donnor also summoned a griffon to join the battle as the lion was taking a beating. Eligos sent a fireball at the beast, only to see it was completely ineffective.
• Barnin struggled against the beasts arm for only seconds before realizing that was a lost cause, so he focused completely on inflicting as much damage to the beast as possible with his fists, as he had learned from Donnor. As he was pounding the beast with his fists he watched it attempt to devour the lion. When the lion’s form stopped struggling, it disappeared. Eligos summoned another griffon to attack, while Donnor, watching his companion get pummeled by tentacles, figured he was in need of healing. So while beginning a prayer to Kord, Donnor ran and jumped, grabbing Barnin’s boot to heal him. Donnor was quickly shaken loose, but not until the deed was done. Sadly, that was the last he saw of Barnin, as the beast swallowed him whole.
• Donnor began to attack the behemoth after Barnin was swallowed. Eligos was attempting many spells to get the beast on the ground. Barnin attacked the insides of the beast with enough ferocity to make a barbarian proud; he didn’t have enough room to move around and attack with his long sword while inside the creature, but he had enough room to do mighty damage with his fists. And he kept punching until he felt the beast fall with him still inside of it.
• As soon as the beast fell, and was no longer moving, Donnor jumped into its mouth in an attempt to find and drag his friend to freedom. It took some doing as the beast weighed tons, and was now dead weight. But after about 30 seconds, Donnor managed to help Barnin find his way out of the animals insides.
• Barnin’s first action after exiting the froghemoth’s mouth was to stare down Loris Raknian. Sadly, Raknian was nowhere to be seen, and only the announcer was left to give the victors their reward and trophy.

(8) Goodmonth 17, 582

• The group was to face the beast before the other gladiators were to face off. So they were up early and ready to do battle after a light breakfast.
• When the time arrived the group took the well-traveled path up the lift into the arena. Drinking their typical Bull’s Strength and Barkskin potions on the way in, Donnor also cast Resist Energy on the group, choosing cold as the energy type. The arena shook with the cheers from the roaring crowd.
• The companions seemed to be waiting ages for the beast to arrive. In fact, they had waited so long, even the crowd started to grow impatient. Eligos and Donnor quickly surmised that Raknian was playing for time so that some of the helpful spells the group cast and the potions drank would have time to fade away before the match began, making it easier for them to be slain.
• After what seemed like an eternity, the arena doors were drawn open and a crate nearly 20 feet tall, and just as wide and deep, was pulled into the middle of the arena. The announcer again thanked Lord Henway for supplying the beast this year, as he always had, and shared with the crowd that the beast would be on display at Lord Henway’s Menagerie in the future. The heroes took exception to that comment.
• Once the exits were secure, guards grabbed the ends of long chains and stood ready to flee as they pulled the crate’s sides down. Unfortunately for the group, what was revealed was not a frost salamander. What was revealed would later be named a froghemoth.

(8) Goodmonth 16, 582

• After the bout with Pitch Blade, it was late afternooon, so the group decided to rest and see who they would face, as they would be right back in the arena the next day.
• That evening, when one of the arena wardens posted the next day’s contest, the group was none too surprised to see that they would be facing whatever surprise magical beast the arena held for them, and Auric’s Warband was facing One of Us. Auric’s Warband was upset because as the current reigning Champions, they should have been the ones that the honor of facing the beast were bestowed upon. They stomped off pouting something along the lines that they would take this up with whoever was in charge.
• As the group ate dinner they overheard some of the guards discussing the supposed beast we would be facing the next day. They spoke in hushed voices, but were still overheard speaking of a frost salamander. Eligos, being the learned mage he was, knew that these beasts are weak against fire damage. After dinner, the group went to their room to prepare ice defense and fire offense against this beast of ice.

(8) Goodmonth 16, 582

• The party awoke on Day 3 to see the match-ups had been posted for that day. Auric’s Warband was scheduled to fight Draconic Brood in the first match at 10:00 am. Drunken Devilry was scheduled to fight One of Us in the second match at noon. And lastly, Iron Fist was scheduled to fight Pitch Blade at 2:00 pm.
• The party also learned that due to there being three victors at the end of Day 3’s matches, two of them will pair off for a semi-final match, while the third will battle some form of exotic beast. If the team battling the beast prevails, there will be a final match against the victor of the semi-final match. Conversely, if the team battling the beast loses, the winner of the Champions’ Games will be the victor of the semi-final match.
• As expected, Auric’s Warband defeated Draconic Brood. In a surprise turn of events, Drunken Devilry was eliminated by disqualification leaving One of Us as the victor.
• The group had to face Pitch Blade which consisted of a pair of angry dwarves. As the match started, the two dwarves each drank a potion and were able to run on air. Donnor pleased the crowd by casting his Righteous Might spell, while Eligos began casting both fire and ice spells. Unfortunately, Barnin wasn’t very effective for his part as he wasn’t able to reach the dwarves except for an occational swat at a boot. But that didn’t stop the team from pulling out another victory behind Eligos’s magic, and Donnor’s flurry of blows.
• It was apparent that Loris Raknian was surprised and maybe even a bit angered, that Pitch Blade did not prevail. It has become evident that Raknian is hoping that one of the gladiatorial teams will bring down our party and save him from doing the dirty work himself. The party, obviously, hopes to see otherwise, and is praying that Raknian will make some misstep along the way.

(8) Goodmonth 15, 582

• Day 2 of the Champions’ Games is scheduled to be a light one. There are no battles scheduled, as it is intended for the teams to rest and recuperate. In lieu of any gladiatorial bouts, the arena above is used for games, demonstrations of magic, and non-tournament mock battles.
• Again, Ekaym came for a visit. As expected, he was hoping for any information about his sister. As the party had nothing to share, Ekaym encouraged them to continue searching. What’s more, when Ekaym heard of the prisoner being held captive in the Arena Understructure, he pleaded that the group interrogate the prisoner for any information that he may have pertaining to his sister. The party agreed to do that very thing that evening.
• Late in the evening, when most everybody had gone to bed, and the guard patrols were lessened, the party again explored the Understructure. The party used a cleverly placed Symbol of Sleep to get past Raknian’s guards. After picking two very difficult locks, they entered Raknian’s palace. A brief search ended with them being chased off by Raknian’s guard dogs.
• The party then decided to speak with the prisoner. At first, the prisoner appeared dead. It wasn’t until Barnin unlocked the cell door and entered that the prisoner exhibited any signs of life. In fact, it took a gentle nudging of the prisoner before he actually sprang up and scrambled to the corner of the cell in complete terror. He had a wild-eyed look in his eyes, and it appeared that he didn’t understand anything that the party said. All he could scream was, “No worms, no worms!” Donnor cast a remove fear spell on him which worked beautifully. He calmed down and quit screaming, but he still didn’t seem to hear or understand anything. So the party surrendered in defeat, again, and headed back to their room in the Coenoby empty-handed. They decided to write a letter to the Lord Mayor explaining this rather significant revelation. The group gave the letter to Ekaym to be delivered to Sgt Priel.

(8) Goodmonth 14, 582

• After the battle, Ekaym visited the party to congratulate them on their decisive victory. He also decided to share with them the real reason for sponsoring them in the Champions’ Games. As it turns out, Ekaym has a sister, Lahaka, who came to Greyhawk to pursue a performing career. She met Loris Raknian. The two hit it off very well, at least according to Lahaka’s letters. She was smitten by the wealthy and influential manager of the Free City Arena. Then she went missing. Her letters stopped abruptly about one year ago. Naturally, Ekaym became worried. So he recruited the party to investigate the whereabouts of his sister by choosing to sponsor them in the Champions’ Games. As a reward for anything that they may find regarding his sister, Ekaym has offered to pay his entire share of the winnings to the party.
• So that very evening, the party agreed to explore the Arena Understructure. They discovered an old abandoned area of The Coenoby called The Titan’s House. It is rumored that The Titan’s House is the remains of an old demon-worshiping cult that predates the Free City itself. There is no evidence to substantiate this claim, however. Also, at least according to the gladiator gossip, there is a submerged tunnel that leads from The Titan’s House to an old, underground network of ghoul warrens. There might be some truth to this claim, however, given that Loris Raknian had a stone plug installed to block that tunnel.
• Unfortunately, a thorough exploration of The Titan’s House yielded no clues about Lahaka. So the group explored the rest of the Arena Understructure. This also proved fruitless, despite becoming familiar with all of the areas down there. Two interesting points of note, however, are the underground entrance to Raknian’s palace (which was guarded), and the Understructure prison (which, curiously, was not). The prison held one captive, probably scheduled for execution. The party retired for the evening with nothing to report back to Ekaym.

(8) Goodmonth 14, 582

• This morning the festivities were to begin, there were a couple of matches up before ours, so we had time to relax and have breakfast before entering the arena.
• The matches that day were more or less set as free-for-all style match-ups, each turn in the arena would have four groups pitted against one another. Looking at the scheduled bouts (and according to odds set before the tourney started), we were pitted against the groups that were the next highest ranked after previous years’ top contenders. We should only assume this will be the way of it as Loris Raknian is running the games, and wants us dead.
• We were put up against Arcane Auriga, a group a elven archers, with their leader being a mage. Badlands Revenge, a druid named Joren with group of gnoll mercenaries. And Sapphire Squad, a group of mounted warriors, fighting from horseback.
• The crowd quickly found out that we wouldn’t stand around and wait to see how things turned out; we charged straight into the thick of things trying to get to what we considered to be the toughest of opponents, Arcane Auriga. We had an agreement with Korush, the leader of Sapphire Squad, that we would attack the others first, then deal with one another after.
• It seemed all of the combatants felt the same as us, because all three groups converged on the archers and mage. They didn’t stand long against the onslaught. The gnolls fell next quickly so that only left the druid and Sapphire Squad. Eligos was locked up with Joren, so Donnor and Barnin dealt with the mounted warriors.
• With the strength provided by Kord, Donnor felt invincible. Using his monk speed and leaping ability, he jumped onto one of the horses and thrashed the rider. Barnin made short work of the other, and that left only Korush. After having his hired hands dealt with so quickly, it only took a couple quick serious blows, he quickly surrendered.
• All that was left then was the druid Joren, and he had shape-shifted into a giant alligator. When Barnin attempted to help Eligos and Donnor attack the alligator, he was bit and siezed in the giant creature’s mouth. Remembering that Donnor had cast the Glyph of Sleep on his shield, he hit the alligator in the head with his shield, and uttered the safe word. Withing seconds the beast lay in a deep slumber leaving the group as the victor of their heat of the first round.

(8) Goodmonth 13, 582

• The afternoon before the Champions’ Games’ big reception dinner was to take place, we met with Ekaym to go over the battle rules, and to see if there were any other last-minute preparations that needed to take place. We sent Ekaym to pick up a few potions for us.
• That night, we attended the festivities that took place the evening before the commencement of the games. All of the other gladiators were in attendance, including the sitting champions, Auric’s Warband. Tirra was there and she said that she didn’t take part in the games. But she did help us out with a couple tips if we go up against the warband, and she also said that the Thieves’ Guild here in Greyhawk was very interested in seeing us win the tourney.
• There was much fanfare the rest of the evening, and many people stopped to talk to us, trying to get some insight from our group to see if we were worthy of a wager on the opening day of the tourney.
• As a group, we were cordial enough, but for the most part we kept to ourselves. We really didn’t want to get Loris’s attention off the party and on us too quickly.

(8) Goodmonth 10, 582

• After we decided to join the games Eligos thought he may know someone that could help us get in by sponsoring us.
• That evening we met with Ekaym and Celeste. They would act as our sponsor and manager for the games.
• After having dinner with them, we learned that they were seeking fame and wealth in their roles. But by the time we were done with desert it seemed that Celeste was more interested in Eligos than the games in any capacity.
• Donnor, had been having dreams and told Barnin about it. He said he wasn’t sure what it meant, only that he felt that sweeping change was coming. Barnin suggested that he go to the temple of Kord and ask one of the elder clergy there to see if they new what it meant. The elder said that he had some similar visions, but that Donnor would have to find out what they meant for himself.
• That night after sleeping, Donnor awoke from the same dream feeling stronger than he ever had, and after starting his day he realized that he had felt like this before after he had prayed to Kord for might to defeat his enemies during battle.
• The next few days passed uneventfully while the hero’s awaited the games beginning.
  

(8) Goodmonth 4, 582

• Once the Mind Flayer was defeated, the adventurers searched the chambers of the beast. They found documentation that further implicated the beast that it was hired to kill our group. Thankfully events didn’t turn out that way.
• The group used dimension door to leave the sewers the same way they entered them and returned to Eligos’s house to discuss all that had been discovered.
• After discussion and debate the group came to an outcome. They decided to send a missive to the Lord Mayor by way of Sergeant Priel of the Watch. The missive would explain all that they had found to this point and the evidence that the plot now pointed to Loris Raknian as the person heading this operation.
• It took a few days for the Lord Mayor to get word back to us. We arranged a meeting with him to discuss the matter. While we were waiting for the Lord Mayor to get back to us we went ahead and evicted our “guests” from Iron Fist Manor. We paid for the services of a Blacksmith to construct a large gateway to welcome guest to out newly crested Iron Fist Manor.
• During that time we also learned of the Champions’ Games that the group of adventurers that we had met in Diamond Lake talked about was coming up on the 14th of Goodmonth, just ten days away.
• We also received word that the Barbarian horde has quickly pressed on from Calbut and moving toward the capital city of Tehn, Nevond Nevnend. Barnin also received another letter from his father saying that the rulers of the Pale will not help him reclaim his land because he suspects they want it for their own.
• On our meeting with the Lord Mayor of Greyhawk we decided that the best way to get more information on Loris was to join the Champions’ Games and poke around while there to get some information.
• On Goodmonth 10, Barnin, passing a town cryer, received word that these organized barbarians have sacked Nevond Nevnend and taken it with out so much as a fight. That the town turned on itself, and rioting began ripping the city apart. And it is now occupied by the newly formed army.
  

(8) Goodmonth 4, 582

• After a short breakfast Barnin and Donnor met up with Eligos at the sewer entrence. Eligos suggested that the group use dimension door to reenter the complex to avoid having to reenter the room the the brain statue again. The group quickly agreed that this would probably be the best approach.
• The room they left yesterday was still unchanged. After a quick search of the chamber for any left behind treasures, the group continued decent towards the bottom chamber. As they entered the large chamber they were faced by an Illithid. The Mind Flayer floated 40 feet above the ground in front of the group. As the group stood there the creatures voice entered thier heads saying, “I know why you’ve come, and you will die here today.” As soon as the Illithid’s though completed, it’s first mental assult hit the party.
• Barnin was the only of the group to be effected by the assault. He dropped his weapon and stood dumbfounded while the others fought on. Donnor summoned the first of many creatures, a Griffin. Eligos cast a dispell magic spell to try weakening the creatures defenses.
• As Eligos and Donnor continued the fight 2 more ocopins slithered down the wall toward the group. The situation seemed to be going from bad to worse. Eligos then cast deep sleep on one of the Octopins just as it was getting ready to attack Barnin, who was still standing in a daze.
• Donnor healed himself and Eligos. Eligos then summoned a Hippogriff to fight the Mind flayer, to give them more time to deal with the Octopins. Sadly the Creature quickly dispatched this summoned ally as well. And now Donnor was seeing Eligos Fight off a mind attck. He realized all too quickly though the the fight didn’t go well. Eligos was moving to turn his bastard sword on Donnor.
• Donnor used the Octopins large size and his own speed to his advantage staying on the opposite side of the beast while Eligos pursued him. This lasted much longer than Donnor would have liked it to, consistantly having to dodge the Octopins attacks, fight off the Mind Flayers constant assaults on this brain, and staying away from Eligos. Until Eligos was finally able to fight off the enchantment, and stop attacking Donnor.
• After summoning the last flying ally available to the party Donnor came up with insane idea that he immediately launched into action. He cast spell immunity on Barnin to keep his head clear. As soon as the spell was cast, Barnin and Eligos started firing arrows at the mind flayer. Donnor fled from the room recalling a balcony they had seen earlier that overlooked the area they were fighting from, and was stightly elevated over the mind flayers position. Running as fast as he could Donnor launched himself off the balcony over a 25 foot gap towards the mind flayer. He jumped with out error, and land on the mind flyer grappling him. The two faught for about another 30 seconds before the mind flayer was over come by his wounds and they both collapsed into the pool below.
  <

(8) Goodmonth 3, 582

• A short yet painful battle ensued with the land dwelling squid creatures. After healing back up we continued on.
• Entering the next room we came upon what looked like a statue of a large brain. The brain was made of white marble and had purple veins running through it.
• Barnin was the first to enter the room. No sooner had he entered the room did he turn to attack Eligos. Eligos having gotten a look at the brain already had a dispel magic called to mind. When Barnin turned to attack Eligos took his chance to cast the spell. Knowing how the spell worked because he saw Barnin’s anguished look fade, (as he was no longer compelled to slay his companions,) Eligos rushed him through the room because the spell may have only been surpressed not dispelled.
• Donnor, really having witnessed none of this stood dumbfounded at the doorway as the other two rushed though the next room. Donnor cautiously walked into the room and immediately felt the statue attempt to control him. Being the disciplined monk that he is though, he was able to fight off the urge to obey.
• Continuing on, the reached the next room to find the drow cleric that had run, and a statue of some demonic bird like creature in the room. As we entered the room she broke a vial on the ground making the statue came to life, and attack. After a short but very intense battle, the group finished off the demon by polymorphing him into a garden variety rabbit.
• Eligos opened a dimension door for us to leave the sewers with out reentering the “brain room.” We made a quick exit because a spore that the demon sprayed on us began to make us sprout growing vines. We went to the temple of Kord to see if there was anything that we could do to fix it. After some deliberation we were told to use holy water, and it worked. We went back to the Inn, and Eligos to his home, with a plan to meet at the sewer entrance the next morning.
  

(8) Goodmonth 3, 582

• Wasting no time we did some research and the yellowish powder or fungus that was on the dark elf’s boots is commonly known as “beggars gold” and most commonly comes from a smithy’s shop. After a short conversation with a sanitation engineer, we are directed and “allowed” to enter the sewers. He promptly closed the gate and locked us in telling us, ” sorry, but the gate has to remain locked.”
• After a short walk through the sewers following the “beggars gold” at every turn. This led us to a break in the sewer wall. Inside there seemed to be a natural cavern. Continuing through, we found where very large snake like creature that charmed both Barnin and Eligos. Thankfully Donnor saw through the creatures “charm” and the creature mad this mistake of attacking, which broke the hold on Donnor’s companions, and they quickly defeated the creature.
• The next chamber revealed a living area of sorts. Housing some malnourished livestock, and several drow. A magic user of sorts fled, leaving the others to their slaughter.
• After defeating the remaining dark elves. We looked around and found several captives that we freed. There were 2 male humans, 2 female humans, and one male elf. The humans gave their thanks, the elf gave a name,Caer Cy-Ari. He said he was a master craftsman, that works in the artisan quarter dealing in wondrous magics.
• Following the direction the fleeing drow went, we came upon 2 large white marble doors. There were Mind Flayer carvings engraved into the columns on either side of the doors. While taking in this pulsing door we were attacked by a creature none of us had encountered before. We called it a cave dwelling octopus.
  

(8) Goodmonth 2, 582

• Getting back to Greyhawk with the needed items to clear our name, we still had to wait until the next morning to get everyone together. We met with the Lord Mayor and several other people that have been involved in the process of clearing our names. After presenting our finding to this “council” all charges were dropped. But now there was the more pressing matter to find out what was going on here.
• The Lord Mayor asked us to continue looking into the situation. He said the cities resources were spread thin as it was, and to allocate guards to investigate these matters was impossible at this time. He also said that we seem to be getting someone’s attention having this large of a plot schemed up have us detained. At this point there was no way we could abandon this quest having investigated, and followed this far.
• With the information that we took from the Sodden Hold, and the Mind Flayer escaping into the sewer, we have figured that was the next logical place to search for information.
  

(8) Goodmonth 2, 582

• After a glorious evening at the Green Dragon Inn Barnin needed to pick up his newly upgraded Flaming longsword. We picked up the sword and went over the instructions for activating and deactivating the flames with the crafter.
• Once Barnin was confident with the weapon they went to pick up Eligos and head back to the Sodden Hold to finish thier investigation there. After navigating the few minor obsticles placed between the entrance and the underwater tunnel Donnor cast a water breathing spell on the three of us.
• Once we swam through the corridor we came upon a large room that was dominated by a column that was about 10 foot in diameter. While inspecting the area to ensure we were alone, and wouldn’t be ambushed, we were attacked by a giant octopus.
• Donnor immediately cast a new spell summoning a Celestial Sea Cat. Between that and the Freedom of movement spell cast on Barnin, the fight was short lived. The octopus fled to saftey shortly after the fight began.
• Swimming to the top of the colomn we found our way into a corridor that had several doors leading out. Upon going to inspect our first door, Barnin’s trap sense save him from a long fall and possibly death. Shortly after thanking Kord that he hadn’t fallen, the hallway filled up with Dopplegangers.
• The group made short work of the fiends. After searching the area, we found what we came back looking for. They had what seemed to be a large staging room, with maps, journals, and other various papers. We gathered all of it up and made our way back to the free city to see what we have found.
  

(8) Goodmonth 1, 582

• So together we made our way back through the gates of Greyhawk. Ariving in the river quarter, we were placed back into a cell until morning when we could be seen by the Lord Mayor, and have this done with once and for all.
• Late morning finally arrived and we were brought to our meeting. The Lord Mayor of Greyhawk was there along with nearly every other person that we have intereacted with since arriving in Greyhawk.
• The meeting couldn’t have went much better for us. Our case was heard, and after many character witnesses stepped forward, and even a mention of our heroics from the Lord Mayor himself, we were pardoned of all charges. We were also given leave to continue our investigation of the disturbing events springing up in conjunction with this coming Age of Worms. Eligos has asked to join our party to assist with the investigation. We were more than willing to accept the services of the capable mage.
• We enjoyed our first evening of freedom at the Green Dragon Inn. After having spent more than a week in a cell, the evening was amazing.
  

(7) Reaping 28, 582

• Arriving at the tower to enter Greyhawk’s River District we were stopped by the guards. After a few minutes of trying to relay our story to the guard, we finally just asked to see Seargent Priel, that he would know what is going on and we could get this straightened out. Some time later Sgt Priel showed up, looking out of sorts as he was just woke up, and was very surprised to see us.
• After explaining what had happened to him, we planned what we thought would be the most effective means of proving that this was a third party effort to get us out of Grayhawk. After some discussion we decided to go back out to the Sodden hold, and at a minimum get the dopelgangers bodies, and look to see if there was any other evidence there that would lead to proof of our innocence.
• Priel and the other guards set up a perimeter around the building while we went in to look around. Everything seemed to be as we left it. We fell into a pit trap and were attack but another odd contruct of sorts before we mad it back to our old cells. But once there we entered the other half of the building. This part of the building opened up to the river where the floor should have been, with just planks of wood laid out as a make shift walk way.
• Once we made our way past the planks, we were attacked by a couple of air elementals that were standing guard. It was a challenging fight, to say the least. After narrowly besting the elementals, we entered the room, to find that there wasn’t much in there, just a hole in the floor, and a large freshwater hole in the corner. Donnor went swimming down in the hole to investigate, only to realize, he was going to need able to breath underwater to invesigate any further.
  

(7) Reaping 27, 582

• Once Barnin got the cell door open, hearing nothing at the first door, he thought better of it and moved to Donnor’s cell to get him out before doing any more investigating.
• Just as soon as the tumbler fell on Donnor’s cell door, the cell next to his opened with the two inmates, newly armed, coming out to attack.
• Less than 30 seconds into the fight it wasn’t looking good. Barnin had already been stabbed several times, receiving pretty heavy wounds. Out of desperation, Barnin charged one of the men pushing him back into the cell so that he wouldn’t be getting attacked by both men.
• As soon as he got him in the cell, he retreated out and closed the door. The caged attacker renewed his attack, attempting to stab Barnin through the cell door. This proved to be the biggest stroke of luck yet. As his sword was stuck through the cell door Barnin opened it, effectively pulling the sword for the man’s hand. Now, with steel in hand, Barnin felt like a reenergized man. But the attacker wasn’t to be outdone; as soon as Barnin picked up the sword, the man tried to tackle him. This move did take Barnin by surprise, knocking the sword from his hand, but only momentarily. Once he had the longsword back in hand and both feet under him, Barnin went to work, and less than a minute later both attackers had been vanquished. Just after thier foes were downed, the bodies morphed into odd alien forms. We had heard of doppelgangers, but this was our first expierence with anything of the sort.
• Both heroes were bloody and battered, but after Donnor bestowed Kord’s blessings on the both of us, we were healed, armed, armored and ready for action once again.
• We freed Ilya from her cell, and said we would be back for the raving looney once we knew the coast was clear. After searching a bit we found our belongings, and our way out. On the way out we were attacked by some odd construct that attached itself to Donnor and attempted to crush him. He should have fun getting that sticky stuff off once we get to the Green Dragon Inn.
• Our plans now are to head back into town and get a room for ourselves, Ilya, and crazy. And in the morning after breakfast and picking up Barnin’s sword, we will get these two safely where they need to be and head back to the real Priel and try to clear our names.
  

(7) Reaping 27, 582

• Three days passed without incident at the citidel, unquestionably the longest 3 days of our lives.
• Late in the morning guards came to move us. We pieced together that we were being moved because of coming Freeday. We didn’t question this or think much of it. As we made our way back to the River Quarter, turning onto The Strip going toward our home on Cargo Street, we had the sudden urge fill our bodies to sleep. Fight as we might, we had no choice but to fall into a deep slumber.
• When we awoke, having gotten the most peaceful rest we have had in more than a week, we found ourselves in prison cells. So rightly we didn’t think much of the nap. But after a short time, getting a feel for our surroundings, Donnor’s sixth sence as a dwarf told him that these aren’t the same cells that we had spent time in before. After relaying the information that we weren’t underground right now, I started to realize myself that the smell and feel of the air did have a different quality to it.
• So after attempting to pick my lock with a piece of wood, without success, I asked the neighboring detainees if anyone had a bone or maybe a small piece of metal that I may be able to use as a lock pick. Ilya, the female elf prisoner in the cell next to Barnin’s had a hair pin! What an amazing stroke of luck!
  

(7) Reaping 24, 582

• Today we were moved to the Citidel to be brought before the magistrate. It was a long and uneventful process were an elderly, seemingly wise old gentleman sat and detailed the charges levied against us and we entered our pleas of not guilty.
• After the proceedings, we were placed back in our cells to spend the remainder of our time until we would go to trial.
• Eligos came by to apologize about taking so long to get back to us with information on our Age of Worms investigation. Of course he really had nothing to apologize for as we weren’t where we said we would be. And surely it took a small bit of investigating of his own to find us.
• Eligos more or less gave us a history lesson on how the worms came about and to what end they are being used for. This looks more and more like a needle in the haystack hunt at every turn we encounter. So I guess the only thing there is to do is keep making noise about the subject until the right person hears us, and comes looking for us.
  

(7) Reaping 23, 582

• New Day didn’t bring much change. Oh there was a slight change in housing, but we were still being held for a murder we didn’t commit. When morning dawned we were taken up to the river quarter to be housed in a proper dungeon, not just a holding cell.
• On the way we saw friendly faces turn unfriendly and confused. Captain of the guard in the river quarter Priel was at the top of that list. He ensured us he would do anything he could to help us, but at the same time, there are two eye witness that are saying we did it. So until there can be something found that would point another way, there will be little he can do.
• When we were placed in our new cell we made new “friends.” There was an overwieght man that didn’t speak in the cell next to Barnin’s. Across from Donnor and Barnin was a priest of St. Cuthbert, Father Caligor. Like the other fanatics that we encountered in Diamond Lake, he was a couple sandwiches short of a picinic.
  

(7) Reaping 22, 582

• After breakfast we went back to the Crooked House Inn to get some rest. That afternoon we had lunch at the Inn and talked with Tarquin the Inn’s owner. We discussed how he fell into a “great deal” on the building because of its state of disrepair, and that all he would have to do is convince people it was safe. Well he must have succeeded because business is good.
• We passed time walking around the Midnight Muddle, as this neighborhood of Greyhawk is dubbed. There are a few interesting shops we will have to come back and check out once we have moved into our house!
• When we were through taking in the sights, sounds, and unfortunately some of the smells of the Midnight Muddle. We then returned to the crooked house grabbed some dinner and headed to bed for the night.
• At some point in the middle of the night we were awoken by screams. Being the adventurers we are, we took up arms, and responded right away. We charged down from the third floor to find a crowd gathered around the bar. And we were greeted by some mad man shouting, ” there they are, they’re the ones that did it!”
• We didn’t attempt to get into any kind of fight with innocent people, but we also were not allowed by those same people to help Tarquin. He laid on the floor behind the bar dying.
• We stood by and waited for the authorities to arrive, hoping some way for reason to be heard. But all that was heard was a couple of “eye witnesses”, that say we were the ones that attacked Tarquin. So we spent the night locked in a dungeon cell.
  

(7) Reaping 21, 582

• After being restless for a day, waiting for Eligos to research the Age of Worms, we decided to visit the Garden Quarter to talk to someone about purchasing a home in the River Quarter in Greyhawk. We were told that there were five properties currently available for sale in the River Quarter. Four recently listed and one that has been on the market for 13 years!
• We were able to get in contact with the owner of the manor that has been available for so long. He took us to the property, and we were amazed by the building. It was a large estate, in great repair, and fully furnished. Something didn’t make sense, as the asking price was well below what it should have been. So Donnor went next door to the monestary to inquire about the estate. Turns out it has been reported as being haunted by the people that were killed in the house.
• So we decided to stay the night to see if it was really haunted. Shortly before dawn, we were attacked by what could only be described as some spectral creatures of shadow, and we ran for our lives! After having breakfast with the owner, we made a deal to puchase the estate for 2,500 gold, much less than the steal of a price it was already going for. Now we just have to get rid of the spooks dwelling there! We have dubbed the manor, The Iron Fist Estate.
  

(7) Reaping 20, 582

• We stopped at the Green Dragon Inn for lunch. We ran into Ricard while we there there. We asked him if he knew anything about Cerenoc, (the merchant that owes Barnin some magical breast plate.) In hashing it out, we figured that we inadvertantly sent Cerenoc off after Ricard’s Sword of Chaos. I assume that when we get the time to go back to Castle Greyhawk, we will find him dead down in its dungeons.
• After lunch we went to a couple of merchants that Ricard suggested to unload all the gear we have been collecting.
• We sold everything and had a pretty heavy purse. Barnin decided to take his longsword to have it enchanted. It will take one week to complete, and when it’s done, it will become writhed in flame on command once the enchantment is complete.
  

(7) Reaping 20, 582

• The three-day trip from Diamond lake to Greyhawk went uneventfully. We arrived at Greyhawk late on the 3rd day, and as we were expected, we went through the gates all the way to the Able Carter Coaching Company without a hitch.
• We stayed the night at the Whistling Fish. The next morning, we ventured up to the Garden Quarter to visit Eligos, a long-time friend of Allustan. On the way, we ran into a parade of sorts. It was a host of Lord Henway’s animals, including some new additions to his collection.
• After a short time watching the animals, a chimera broke out of its cage and proceeded to attack the commonfolk. We assisted guards with killing the beast, but not before it killed two civilians.
• We filled Eligos in on everything that is going on in Diamond Lake; he agreed to look into the Age of Worms. He also let us know that we need to pass on the message to Allustan that, “he owes me one”. He also said that if we mention his name at the Crooked House Inn we would get a good price.
  

(7) Reaping 16, 582

• The two-day journey back to Diamond Lake went by uneventfully. After arriving back, we relaxed and slept that evening. The next day, we convened with the Captian of the Guard to learn that Luzane and Geltch were the ones that arranged to have Balobar’s taxes taken so that they didn’t arrive in Greyhawk and arouse suspision.
• We settled up our business with Vanelle, and Barnin now has a Ring of Protection +1.
• Allustan wants us to visit an old friend of his in Greyhawk, to have him investigate the Age of Worms further while he stays in Diamond Lake to investigate from there.
• On the morning of the 17th, the party leaves Diamond Lake enroute to Greyhawk.
  

(7) Reaping 13, 582

• The journey back through the swamp was uneventful. After traveling throughout the night, taking an 8-hour break at daybreak the party arrived back at Blackwall keep the next evening.
• The guards were happy to see their companions return, but they also seemed to be shaken. The guards that remained back said that three of their number were infected with the worms and were now trapped in the basement of the tower. They asked that we deal with them before leaving so that they could resume their post and properly reset their watch over this area.
• Being the heroes they are, Barnin and Donnor said they would take care of the turned guards. Shortly after unbarring the door and going down into the basement, Donnor and Barnin found the first of the guards. One look at the guard and Barnin wasn’t able to control the urge to flee, and left Donnor to deal with the guards alone.
• Donnor was alone for what seemed like ages waiting for help and holding off all three guards. Allustan joined the fray after Barnin burst into the room from the basement and fled the tower. Thanks to Allustan’s lightning bolts, the heroes were able to defeat the guards and return order to Blackwall Keep.
• These guards seemed to be much stronger than the other possesed creatures that they had faced up tho this point. The heroes and Allustan decided that they need to return to Diamond Lake with Marzena in tow to discuss matters further.
  

(7) Reaping 12, 582

• After a continued search we found the “shaman” and she made a deal with us. She would release the prisoners we had come for, as long as we “dealt” with the King of her tribe. She wanted him gone because he was the one allowing an outside 3rd party to use their tribe to help perpetuate the Age of Worms.
• We agreed to deal with the King either way as long as she released the prisoners. Donnor went through and healed all of the prisoners to make sure they were in good shape and able-bodied enough to defend themselves.
• We entered the King’s throne room and were immediately attacked by the King. He threw his mighty trident and then was able to retrieve it seemingly through thought. Fortunately for Barnin, the King wasn’t able to land many heavy blows, so the fight didn’t last very long.
• After removing the King from power, we assisted the shaman with securing the egg chamber. There were fanatic kobolds guarding the lizard tribe’s egg trove. We removed the kobolds, and made sure the area was as secure as possible before handing it over to the shaman.
• We had only been there for a couple hours, so we decided to head back to Blackwall Keep that same night. We arrived back at the Keep late the next evening after stopping to get fully rested.
  

(7) Reaping 12, 582

• We entered the hideout, and immediately came under attack. We found several sleeping chambers with a few belongings and nest like sleeping mats. We also found rooms with refuse piles, that have iridescent mushrooms that piqued Allustan’s interest, he said he would have to come back and check that out later.
• In one of the bed chambers, where we fought and killed 6 lizard men, one the lizard men had the Green Worms literally pour out of him after he died. It seemed like the lizard man was their host, all of the worms died after being exposed though.
  

(7) Reaping 10, 582

• Talked to Kellek’s adventuring group. The Warrior is an arrogant human. There is something brewing under the surface with the female elf in their party. Kellek seemingly the leader, is very distant and cryptic, especially when he said, “Revelation comes also in Darkness,” as we were leaving them in the parlor. He seemed to be waiting for some response.
• We also were reminded that the Champion Games were coming up in a couple weeks back in Greyhawk. I suppose we will be seeing Kellek’s group there as they were last years champion. I suppose I should take them a little more seriously if they have the ability to win a title like that.
• We left Diamond Lake going to Blackwall Keep.
  

(7) Reaping 10, 582

• After talking with Allustan again, he informed us that there was indeed a recently uncovered cairn. And he regrets to inform us that a local adventuring group has already went out and searched the cairn..
• After getting this news we decide to head out right away to see if there is any information in this cairn, that suddenly appeared, that would help us put an end to this Ebon Triad.
• We found evidence of activity at an abandon mining headquarters. This was close to the Whispering Cairn we were investigating.
• After a couple hours in the cairn, we began to realize that a local adventuring group that had been here before us searched this place and cleaned it out pretty well.
  

(7) Reaping 7, 582

• This trip Allustan accompanied us down into the mines. After a couple hours in the “faceless one’s” laboratory, we finally found the key to the coded missive that we found on Theldric. We also found the underground lair’s storage room, full of merchandise, supplied by none other than Balobar Smenk.
• Once we were back in Allustan’s home, we wasted no time decoding the scroll.
• Armed with these two pieces of solid evidence, we headed to the Greyhawk Garrison that is stationed in Diamond Lake. Once the evidence and story was presented to the Captain of the Guard, there was little to do, other than arrest Balobar. Accompanied by the captain and 6 guards we went to his house. With the procession that arrived at his door, Balobar was reduced to a groveling whelp.
• After Balobar was taken into custody, Donnor, Captain of the Guard and I went to Ragnolin Dourstones to pick him up for questioning as well. I figured he wouldn’t be extrodinarily happy about this. With our word backing him, we had little doubt that he would be cleared of any wrong doing.
• It is only a matter of time now. We should be able to relax peacefully here in Diamond Lake and get some rest and relaxation while the local guard does thier job, and investigates the case.
  

(7) Reaping 7, 582

• Although it was still early in the day, our bodys had been pushed to the limits. So we returned to the Able Carter Coaching Inn to take advantage of a quiet afternoon. Barnin rested and slept, while Donner communed with Kord, and got some well deserved rest as well.
• Even after a full nights sleep we still felt the effects of the previous days adventures. So we were only off to start our day after Donner bestowed Kords healing blessings upon us.
• After going through everything that we recovered from the mines we realized we had a few journals in our posession. So it would be another trip to Allustans for us to see if we could dig further into this “Ebon Triad.”
• After leaving the journals with Allustan, we made plans to meet back up with him this afternoon. Allustan will join us in a trip back down to the mines, to see what we can uncover in the mages chambers.
• Now we’re off to fill some time trying to unload our fancy dice. Being that there are gaming halls in town, this shouldn’t be too hard! So off to Lazare’s. Lazare was most impressed with the dice, and seem interested in purchasing them. He wanted us to take them to Allustan to tell us what the symbols on the dice mean…. Jeeze, why didn’t I think of that… guess I need more rest.
  

(7) Reaping 6, 582

• After clearing out the birdmen in the halls of the Vecna wing of this “Ebon Triad,” it seemed like there must be more. But after spending what seemed like forever (but was only a couple short hours) searching, we decided to return to town and seek the council of Allustan.
• Back in Diamond Lake, Allustan provided council on the “Ebon Triad,” as well as a potion to help find secret doors . . .
• We returned to the halls of Vecna, and Allustan’s potion did the trick; we found two new doors.
• After delving into the new hallways, we found new, more powerful opposition in the form of two clerics, a wizard, and several other combatants.
• We will likely say we made short work of them upon spreading word back at the tavern, but we nearly didn’t escape with our lives, because after facing everything we faced in the Vecna complex, we encountered the most hideous and powerful construct we had ever faced. It was a savage beast that rose out of the pool of blackness in the Dark Cathedral. It’s very appearance defied reason. We could only conclude that it somehow embodied the three vile religions given its alien charactersitics. It had six arms, representing Hextor, but at the same time three of those limbs ended in disembodied stumps, characteristic of Vecna’s missing hand. Its battle rage and thirst for combat with little regard to its own well-being would have made Erythnyul, the god of slaughter, proud. So, in a sense, this could have been some champion sent to exact revenge for the defeat of the three leaders of the churches buried deep under Diamond Lake.

• We got to the cliff edge after decending. When we started down the side of the cliff, we came under heavy arrow fire. After a hurried trip down we took cover, and immediately got attacked by a pair of chokers.
• After quickly dispatching the chokers, the adventurers healed themselves. Not coming under another immediate attack, Barnin and Donnor finally had a chance to study their surroundings. The cliff decended to this tunnel that opens about 40 feet away. On the other side lies a large pile of stone. Discerning that there was no other way to get out, they choose to climb the stone pile. Upon reaching the stone pile, they realized there is a ledge on this side too, much like the ledge that they were getting showered with arrows from on the other side.
• No sooner than coming to that realization, they began to take arrow fire again. After trading arrows with these cave-dwellers, the heroes finally get the upper hand, ending their existance. Immediately after the bow-wielding cave-dwellers fell, a savage female cave-dweller dove from the ledge, wielding two daggers. After a hard fought battle, they bested the enraged mistress. Not completely unscathed though, Donnor had to be brought back from the brink of death with a healing potion.