From Avegost

The Coming of Dragons, The Return of Nirandir, or The Coming of the Dragons was an Avegost Campaign with its central plot point revolving around the return of the great dragon, Nirandir, and the epic battle which had been waged against him throughout time by deities who became mortals.

Contents 1 Cast of Heroes 2 Plot Overview 3 Plot Synopsis 3.1 The Joining 3.2 Answers at the Outpost 3.3 When the Mind Wanders 3.4 The Lord's Carriage 3.5 The Kobulls 3.6 A Stranger in the Mines 3.7 Ambush in the Alleyways 3.8 Trouble in Rivton 3.9 Santa CLAWS 3.10 Quest for the Bishop 3.11 From Outpost to Cathedral 3.12 The Fall of the Drake 3.13 Into the Wild 3.14 The Ogre Cave 3.15 Galmau's Outpost 3.16 Returning to Rivton 3.17 The Ballad's Night 3.18 Into The Sepsecolskegth Cave System 3.19 The Immortal 3.20 A Stranger with news of Murder 3.21 The Soothing Sound of Death 3.22 The End of the Harpy Problem? 3.23 Trouble in Sovlin 3.24 Vhok's Story 3.25 Attack of the Plants 3.26 Meeting James = 3.27 Remembering the Forgotten Past 3.28 The Frost Giant's Artifact 3.29 Battle in the Ice Cave 3.30 Finiesto Appears

Cast of Heroes

• Aelis Iatramil
• Aipholus Thainsoul
• Algeron Haldevar
• Cassfall Istavian
• Delgen Moreft
• Faelyn Tavendor
• Gareth Materlyn
• Kern Wayfarer
• Vhok Colbsson
• Xavier Rousseau

Plot Overview

At the end of the Fall of the Empire there were few who truly had the resources to commit to an all out war, much less against an inhuman enemy. As the world begins to settle from recent wars a massive attack occurs in Falkenia that sends the entire world into a tumbling downward spiral. Several heroes are brought together in an unlikely way to defend against this threat and they can only begin to imagine the threat which is being caused to the world and their part to play in it.

Plot Synopsis

This synopsis was written by Leo Negron, Adam Bush, and Joe Landolfi.

The Joining

Six people find themselves inside an eerie room. As they stand up they realize there is no sound. The look at each other suspiciously, but somehow feel bound by curiosity. Several members begin to probe their surroundings. Some try to make sound while others attempt to open eerily unmovable and malleable doors. As the party escapes the room by moving through the jelly like doors they find themselves in some kind of very real dream.

They explore some more going down some stairs and finding bedrolls and a campfire. A Freitian named Kern is overly suspicious and uses his Glaive to keep others at bay. He is confronted by a Grecan warrior, who sports a bloody nose but is otherwise ready to defend the female in the group. The Grecan sheathes his axe and opens his hands in a sign of peace. He then proceeds to pass his hand through the fire, which does not burn him. His hand goes through it like his body went through the door.

In another corner of the room a dark skinned man tries to pick up a backpack from the floor and notices it is his own backpack. His hand passes through it as well. To the east doors open to a balcony between the two towers. Three of the party members go outside and watch a man in a black horse coming from the north. Behind him two of the party members appear then the man raises his hand an a flash of white light blinds everyone.

The party finds themselves inside a barn sleeping on hay. A farmer tells them he will be coming back and they better be off his hay by then. They stand up and quickly there is some animosity between the Freitian and the Grecan. The rest of the party goes outsides and meets Jethro the farmer. They ask him some questions and find out they are in Falkenia. Eventually all party members ask the man some questions and he leaves. They find out there is a nearby outpost with two towers very familiar to what they saw in their “dream”. They decide they must go there, but some of the members are hungry and wish to eat. The party goes to a bar/bistro the farmer mentioned with a lady called Marina.

Here the party introduces each other:

• Faelyn – A beautiful woman with a beautiful voice.
• Aipholus - A half-elf self proclaimed sorcerer and former Erydian prisoner.
• Gareth – A human Dunslander.
• Aelis – A wise looking elf.
• Kern – A Freitian polearm wielder.
• Xavier – A Grecan human knight.

After initial introductions the party finds out all of them seem to have birthmark of some kind on their chin. All of the males have the same mark but Faelyn’s mark looks more like an arrow. It is then that Aelis begins to tell a story about a druid named Lavitz. Aipholus and Xavier believe it might be a wizard who marked them. Aelis says that this mighty druid used to mark his apprentices in such a fashion so as to instill his wisdom upon them. The party remains a little perplexed at this but must leave the establishment for Marina needs to do some things.

Outside the party continues to speak of what they should do. Gareth says he’s going to the towers and begins his walk. Faelyn continues to say she does not wish to go. Eventually they convince her to join them and the trek begins. On the way they hear screaming. As they approach the origin they see what looks like a large house or inn and three orcs outside. At first Xavier doesn’t think they are doing anything wrong but eventually their intentions are clear as they charge them.

The party handles themselves quite well with Xavier taking lead and Kern protecting the rear. Once the orcs behind Xavier get dropped Kern moves forward and proceeds to single-handedly kill orcs with his glaive. The orcs are decimated and the party continues moving in. They find a massacre inside and two orcs, one relatively larger than the other. The larger one throws a javelin but accidentally hits his own buddy and kills him. Xavier moves forward and uses a table for cover. The orc runs into a backroom. Kern and Xavier move forward while the rest of the party explores other areas in case there are orcs about to flank them. Other members check on the dead humans on the floor.

The Grecan knight attempts to break the door with his axe but loses grip. His axe flies away. Kern opens the door and the orcs attacks Xavier, who dodges easily. Aipholus picks up Xavier’s axe and brings it to him. The knight then slams it into the orcs shoulder as Kern uses his glaive to tear a hole on the orc’s belly. It drops to the floor barely alive. Xavier then slams his axe on his skull.

The party then hears a rumbling outside. They quickly move outside and see four winged monsters with riders on top of them. Their scaled bodies marking the beginning of what would be known as: The Coming of Dragons.

Answers at the Outpost

After getting what little rest the six adventures could at the orc ransacked Inn they all eventually awoke around midnight. After getting up and strapping their gear on, and collecting the gear found in the inn they all slowly started meeting up at the front of the Inn in darkness. The elf Aelis, was distracted soon after he awoke by an important dream he had but he couldn’t remember anything about it except that it was important some how. After the others tried to job his memory into what he thought his dream was about he finally remembered one part about his dream, and that was his hands were glowing. The others seemed this was another of many oddities they have encountered so far as none of the rest of them had any dreams at all. With everyone now ready with their gear, Aelis still struggling to remember any details about his dream, and a hesitant conclusion to go investigate the outpost from their dreams the party set off into the dark night east towards the two towers.

After traveling for a ways the party nearing the two towers notices the night sky aglow with orange light, and a forest on either side of the road leading to the towers. The group slowly and quietly follow the edge of the woods as far up as they can towards the towers with burning forest in the background lighting the night. Up close to the keep the party ducks behind a bank of dirt pilled up from a fallen tree and see more than what they came for. Dead bodies littering the ground that have been hewn apart from monstrous gashes and bite marks, and then as the party looks to the top of the keep they see their fears realized….A massive dragon with an armored torso who brings its head up and lets out a roar as it yawns and looks to the other tower.

Seeing this terrifying sight the party starts to decide they have seen enough and it is time to go except just at that moment a large armored man is seen dragging another humanoid figure by the hair out along the walkway between the two towers towards a pile of bodies. The man on the walkway is begging for his life and backing away on his hands and feet, while the armored man is screaming something at him and holding his blade towards him. As this is happening the man begging for his life notices the dragon on the tower and points and starts screaming, at the sight of this the armored man raises his hands and is enveloped in fire, which slowly dissipates and afterwords the large dragon takes off and flies away.

With the threat of the dragon now out of sight, Xavier suggests that they need a closer look and if someone could sneak up there and possibly inside it should be done. The conversation between the men on the walkway continues, and while this is happening, Aelis notices for a brief moment that Xaviers’ marking on his chin was glowing. Then just as soon as he noticed it, and asked Xavier to come closer so he could see it better it was gone. As Aipholus begins slowly leaving the way the group came the ground begins to rumble and shake as the dragon flies back overhead and continues on past the keep. With what seems to be a chance to get a closer look Faelyn convinces the others that she can hide well and wont be seen. With Gareth wishing her to be careful Faelyn carefully begins to sneak off towards the field. The argument still ensuing on the walkway between the armored man and the man at his feet with the armored man holding his sword up ready to strike then sheathing it. The armored man once more holds up his hand and it is engulfed in flame, which then dissipates. Only moments after this the sounds of the monstrous beast is heard coming close and the wind from its large wings is felt on the adventurers as it lands very close to them in the field….

The dragon paces in the field and the fiery armored man shouts something and then returns to the towers. With hearing what the armored man shouted the dragon raises itself up on its back legs and inhales. Then with the sound of a great blast the dragon unleashes a breath of fire towards the walkway and incinerates the man still on it. With fire blazing everywhere and splashing off the keep some of it is landing in the field and beginning to set it ablaze. Faelyn who is now quickly making her way back to the others dives at the last moment as a burst of flame flies over her and into the trees. She lands on top of Aelis who then with the help of the others pat her down with dirt to stop her back and backpack from burning her.

With the group now in obvious agreement that it is time to leave they all slowly turn and make their way back along the edge of the woods. Just at that moment the dragon stops, and comes back down to all four legs and sniffs the air in the direction of the woods. Xavier signals the group to stop, and they all do and lay low, waiting, wondering if the dragon knows they are there. Then as Kern slowly stands back up his eyes meet with the dragons and with that the dragon rears up onto its back legs again and lets out a deafening roar of terror. Upon hearing the dragons roar the entire group stands and all but Xavier and Aelis run back towards the Inn as fast as they have never run before in their lives. Xavier and Aelis stand there and then slowly look to each other and nod, and on that they turn and run as fast as their legs will carry them. Everyone now is running for their lives away from the dragon that roars once more, and on that Xavier stops and turns with his axe and shield drawn facing the dragon. With its prey now in sight the dragon walks with all its might towards Xavier who is standing resolute in the face of utter annihilation. Aelis now still running with all his might realizes what is happening and that Xavier is going to sacrifice himself for the others. Aelis stops running with the dirt under his feet spraying as he is turning around at the same time. Aelis sprints back towards the looming destruction that is bearing down upon Xavier. The dragon now standing close enough to Xavier that he can smell the sulfur and burnt flesh that the dragons stench carries with it is reading to tear his foe to shreds. Aelis running as fast as he can not even feeling emotion or fear anymore notices his hands beginning to glow, and although he couldn’t see it his mark was glowing too on his chin. The dragon lets out its final roar and is about to swing to kill Xavier in one terrifying blow when at the last moment Aelis dives and tackles Xavier to the ground. As their faces hit the dirt the world around them disappears and the next thing they feel is tall grass and a cool breeze.

As the world dissolves around the others running for their lives they soon find themselves running in a field instead of a road next to a forest and they stop running. Xavier stands with axe in hand expecting to take on the dragon except the only thing he sees is Aelis. Frustrated and angry at Aelis for what he did Xavier grabs Aelis by the collar and pulls him up. Wanting answers that Aelis doesn’t have about how they got where ever they are now and why he knocked him down while trying to fight the dragon and defend everyone Xavier finally lets go of Aelis.

Kern, Faelyn, Gareth, and Aipholus now standing in the field and coming back to Xavier and Aelis wondering what has happened now and where they are. What the group can figure out though is that they are no where near where they used to be judging by the stars not even matching where they just were moments ago. With everyone still in confusion about what happened and just where they are now Faelyn takes off her burnt backpack and examines her charred belongings. Gareth surveys the surroundings and figures out which way is north fairly easily, and peering though the nights darkness Aelis can just barely make out a shape of either a mountain or structure directly south of where they are.

With nowhere else for the group to go they start walking to the outline in the south. While walking the group notices little differences around them like the moon being closer to the world and larger in the sky. Aipholus takes out some of his map scrolls and looks for a single mountain and doesn’t seem to find any such landmark on his scrolls. Faelyn although being burnt by the dragons’ fire insists that she is alright. After walking for an hour through the field figures are seen approaching the group. With Xavier now out in front of the group followed by Kern close behind him the party cautiously closes the gap between the figures in the dark and themselves. When the group gets close enough they see a small child who turns out to be a woman. Seeing Xavier in armor the woman stops and doesn’t come any closer to the group. With many in the group trying to ask the woman questions, the woman responds in a foreign tongue. With confused looks on both the woman's face and the groups faces because both parties are speaking foreign languages Gareth finally figures out that what she is speaking is Ancient Erydian. The woman's face soon turns to fear as she looks back over her shoulder and sees three men approaching the group. Xavier now seeing the three armored men carrying spears he quickly runs around the woman so that she is behind him. Kern also follows Xaviers lead and positions himself next to Xavier.

The three armored men with their bronze armor, shields and long spears approach Xavier and stop side by side in position. With spears pointed at Xavier one of the armored men says something to him although it’s in the same Ancient Erydian that the small woman speaks. Xavier lowers his weapon and starts to approach the armored men. The armored men look hostile toward Xavier, and with this look Xavier puts his weapon away and continues to get closer to the men with his hands open. The armored men take a step back at Xaviers actions and with this Xavier draws his axe again. One of the men takes a stab at Xavier and combat ensues. Gareth looks up and whispers silently as an aura begins to surround Kern. At the same time Aelis whispers and touches the soft earth and the plants around the armored men begin to come alive and grow rapidly wrapping themselves around the men’s legs. As the plants begin entangling the armored men Gareth moves him and the woman away from combat. Aipholus also moves back from the group even further than what he already was and readies his crossbow and fires at the armored men. While all this is happening Xavier and Kern are doing what they do best and taking the armored men down one at a time. After quickly killing the first armored man with his glaive Kern and Xavier move over to the next man. Seeing the first armored man fall easily to the might of Kern and Xavier, Faelyn sneaks up with her whip coming in behind Kern to help attack the second amored man. Doing this the armored man sees Faelyn out of the corner of his eye and thrusts his spear in her direction, which impales her directly in the chest, and with a last breath she slumps to the ground. With the group in shock of seeing Faelyn dead on the ground, Xavier charges and attacks one of the armored men. The armored man seeing Xavier close in on him drops his spear and pulls out a knife and stabs Xavier many times with it before the armored man dies. While Kern and Xavier who is now bleeding from the stabbing finish off the last armored man, Gareth leaves the woman and rushes to Faelyn. He informs the others that she is not dead yet and can save her. Holding his hands over Faelyn, Gareth whispers to his god to bring life and health back to Faelyn. After a few moments Faelyn begins to breathe again and wake up.

With the armored men on the ground before them, one dead and the other two dieing the woman runs up to them and tears off some of their clothing to stop the bleeding. Aipholus runs up to Xavier and tries to bandage some of his bleeding wounds. With Xaviers wounds still gushing blood, Aelis gently touches Xavier and heals some of his major wounds. With everyone starting to regroup and the strange woman still tending to the dying mens wounds they are still at a loss as to how to communicate with the stranger. Gareth tells the others that he has only read some of the ancient texts that use the Ancient Erydian language, but he can’t speak it.

The woman on the ground tending to the wounds of the fallen men stops and looks up into the night sky and starts speaking in her tongue. Aipholus concentrates on what the woman is saying, and he does his birthmark begins to glow. Kern goes over to look closer at him and mentions his chin, but Aipholus just concentrates harder and the woman is trying to tell them something. Gareth points to the temple that is in the distance and is what the group originally saw across the field. Eventually the frail woman and Gareth repeat the same word and point toward the temple and she nods in agreement. Aipholus now very deep in concentration speaks “hello” in Ancient Erydian and everyone understands him. The frail woman looks up into the sky and starts speaking again this time frantically and moving her arms up and down. Kern now pokes Aipholus and says his chin was glowing, and Aipholus explains to Kern that he was trying to activate his birthmark and speak to the woman. This catches everyone by surprise that Aipholus seems to know what his birthmark does.

With the woman now yelling something in Ancient Erydian she points to the dying men on the ground. Then she begins to try and drag one of the men towards the temple. Wondering what she is doing Xavier thinks he knows and begins to help the woman carry the injured man. The others help grab the other injured man and begin taking them towards the temple. The frail woman is now frantically yelling “Nirandir”, and in the distance a large flying beast can be seen. Gareth yells that Nirandir is a dragon! Now everyone is running as fast as they can while trying to carry the two injured men. Kern grabs one of the men and throws him over his shoulder, and with the others carrying the other man the frail woman lets go of him and starts to run as fast as she can towards the hills. With everyone running at full speed keeping up with the woman the ground begins to shake, which is followed by a massive horrifying roar. Still running with all their might Gareth sees many drakes the size of men start to land, and Xavier asks Aelis if he can take them away again. Not knowing how he did it the first time Aelis pushes everyone to keep running. There looks to be an opening in the side of the hill, which the frail woman dashes into. Following the woman the group make it inside the structure in the hill, and when they do they hear the screeches of the drakes outside.

Still following the woman blindly the group dashes into a room through a narrow tunnel, and when they get in there they find the woman desperately trying to pull on a large stone chair. Seeing that the drakes are not far behind them Xavier and Kern drop the bodies of the injured men and help pull the chair. While the room is barely lit Gareth rummages through Xaviers pack to find the flint and steel he says he has. Now trying to light one of his own torches, Faelyn solves the problem by casting a spell that makes tiny little lights that light up the room. Just as the room lights up from the glowing orbs the drakes rush into the room. Aipholus chants a quick spell and is suddenly surrounded by a ghostly form of armor.

As the drakes rush into the room Kern and Xavier prepare to fight them with spear and Glaive in hand. Aelis yells in Lilandian at the drakes and they screech at him and rush towards him. Rushing towards Aelis one of the drakes slices through the frail woman with its razor sharp claws and she falls dead onto the stone floor. Aelis dazzles one of the drakes with his elven magic as Aipholus launches magic from his fingertips. Attacking the drakes with their long weapons Xavier and Kern tear into the drakes’ flesh and they come after them. Xavier drops his spear and takes up his axe and him and Kern cut down the drakes. Aelis runs over to the dead woman and begins to stabilize her wounds so that she doesn’t bleed to death. With their magic out and everyone injured Aelis stabilizes the woman and at that same moment she looks around and points to the doorway and yells out Nirandir once again. Everyone backs up and Kern grabs the severely injured woman and carries her back towards the far wall just in time as a large blast of fire fills the narrow hallway that leads into the room. With only moments left, Xavier pushes the chair with every last ounce of energy he has left in his battered body and wedges into the opening just as another burst of flame and fire is coming. Slightly singed Xavier pats out the little fire that is burning on him, and picks up his shield and walks back to the group on the far wall.

With a great roar the dragon lets out another blast of fire that makes its way around the edges of the chair as it starts to glow from heating up. Turning to the doors at their backs the group slowly pushes them open ready for anything on the other side. The group enters a long since forgotten corridor that is not illuminated by the dancing balls of light that still swirl around the group. Slowly proceeding Gareth examines a pile of rubble along the way and discovers a small statue that depicts a flying dragon. Continuing down the corridor Faelyn notices Xaviers chin glowing where his mark is. Faelyn says something to Xavier about it but he shrugs it off not concerned with that at the moment. Aelis notices Gareths mark beginning to glow, and then the entire party notices everyone else’s marks glowing on their chins except for Faelyns. Wondering now what is going on with their marks the group continues and comes to another dark room. When everyone moves closer to the room it begins to lighten up. The group enters a room that has a platform in the middle that is raised with statues on top of it. The room is littered with broken stone everywhere on the floor from tables, chairs, and what used to be a stairway up to the top of the platform. The group carefully examines the room and Aipholus boosts Faelyn up to the top of the platform. Once up there Faelyn gasps at the sight before her, and then she manages to get out to the group that the statues are of them…..

When the Mind Wanders

As the party makes their way into the dark room at the bottom of the stairs they see something very strange. As Kern proceeds into the room with the torch he is carrying he notices what seem to be sconces at the end of the room. He moves over towards them and dips his torch into them and they slowly come to life with a feint glow. With the room now being illuminated the group sees many hieroglyphs that cover most of the walls that seem to tell some tale. Also there is a door in-between the sconces that can be seen clearly now with writing on it that looks different than the other cuneiform on the walls. Gareth moves closer to the door and recognizes the writing as old Erydian. With the frail woman still with them Gareth motions to her to come towards him. She hesitantly makes her way over towards Gareth and the door by moving cautiously by Kern and Xavier. Closer to the door she looks confused by the hieroglyphs but puts her hand on the door recognizing the old Erydian and begins speaking. After she is done speaking she stands at the door looking at it oddly. A few moments pass and she is still staring at the door strangely as the group wonders what to make of the words that she spoke.

Then the room shakes as the Drake breaks into the room above them and starts destroying it looking for its prey.

Faelyn wonders if Gareth has the power to comprehend languages, and he explains to her that he has not the power for any more miracles today. With the frail woman still standing there, and Xavier telling the others that everyone needs to get moving, she turns to Aelis and starts speaking to him and points at him questioningly. Not understanding what she wants or is saying Aelis point to his elven ears thinking that she is saying something to him because he is the only elf. When the frail woman notices Aelis’ ears she takes a step back away from Aelis but recovers. She nods at Aelis but still seems confused and begins speaking old Eryidan again and the only recognizable words are Nirandir, and Lilandi. Faelyn notices the awkward conversation trying to happen between Aelis and the woman and wonders if she is just now noticing that Aelis is an elf. Aelis turns to Faelyn and says that he thinks she is figuring out that he is Lilandian. With that the woman smiles and limps over to Aelis and gives him a hug, and says something else about Lilandi.

With the frail woman hugging Aelis tighter now Aipholus wonders if she can speak Lilandian. She continues hugging and now starts to kiss Aelis saying something about Lilandi as she is doing so. Aelis begins to speak Lilandian to the woman and thanks her. With time seeming to be running out Kern makes a comment about not having time to get the elf a good lay. Xavier chuckles at Kerns remark and the peers back into the darkness at the ready of the stairwell waiting for what is coming. With time running out Aelis points to the door and asks the woman for help in Lilandian. She moves closer to the door and begins reading the stanzas on the door and muttering to herself.

Aipholus is carefully examining the hieroglyphs along the walls and notices there are seven figures fighting a dragon and some deity in the pictures. He also points out that all but one of them die in the end. Just then the woman is still reading the old Erydian on the door and starts to come to the end and noticeable words are Nirandir, Lilandi, and Dyth, which the Kern and Faelyn ask if Dyth means death. They repeat dyth and the woman repeats it back dyth..

The room shakes violently and dust and debris start falling from the ceiling onto everyone. Aipholus moves towards the door and begins to push on it. The door only moves slightly, and as it does darkness creeps into the room from the crack in the door. Gareth moves over and helps Aipholus push on the door, and as they are doing this Xavier comes over to the door and pushes on it with them. With all their strength the door pushes open as it grinds stone against the stone floor. There is nothing but darkness beyond the door. Xavier grabs a torch from the sconce and walks forward into the darkness and disappears. Carefully questioning the darkness Faelyn and the others follow Xavier into the darkness. Aelis speaks Lilandian to the woman to follow him and he holds out his hand for her to take. She takes his hand and they slowly walk into the darkness.

In the same moment that everyone walks into the darkness they appear in what seems to be a library. The room is covered with bookshelves lining all the walls and even shelves in the middle of the room. Grasping at thin air Aelis doesn’t feel the frail womans’ hand anymore and only sees a wall with books on it. Aelis says that she is gone, while Aipholus says that this looks like a library that he used to work in. With the commotion that the group is making someone asks who is there. Xavier walks forward cautiously into the library and sees a man putting his hood of his cloak on covering his white hair. Faelyn desperatly searches the shelves for a concealed pathway from which they just came as Gareth moves out into the open to warmly great the cloaked man. At that moment Gareth sees magic shoot out of the old mans hand and Xavier is hit directly in the chest and flies backwards crashing into and knocking down a bookshelf. Seeing this Gareth raises his spear towards the cloaked man, as the rest of the group hears the crash and moves into the room and sees what is happening. Gareth keeping his composure tries to tell the man that they mean him no harm, although Kern and Faelyn seem to think he will attack again. Then the old man speaks.

You mean me no harm? He explains to the group that they are the sixth group to come at him this week, and to tell Flaxius that he will not give into to him. Looking confused at the old man the group tries to explain to him that they do not know how they got here or who Flaxius is. Faelyn runs over to Xavier and tries to help him get up. Gareth and Kern explain to the cloaked man that the group happened to end up here because a dragon was chasing them. Then Kern says that he thinks it was more of a large drake, and with that the cloaked man says Kerns name. Kern Wayfayer…Then the old man looks at Gareth…Gareth Materlyn. Surprised that the man knew their names Aipholus asks how he knows their names. At the sound of Aipholus’ voice the old man says he recognizes that voice of Aipholus, and calls them friends and pulls his hood off.

Standing before the group is a very aged man that no one recognizes. The man approaches Kern with arms open and the green glow of his hands dissipates as he hugs Kern and begins weeping. Through the weeping the old man says that it worked, by Solaris the plan worked. While this is going on Xavier on his last leg fueled only by adrenaline now gets up off of the bookshelf. He grips his axe tighter and makes his way to the old man demanding that he draw his weapon to defend himself for attacking him. The old man says that he would not hurt him and calls him Lord Rousseau. With Faelyn asking and Kern demanding the old man who he is he finally says that he is Arliss Corin. Still no one knowing who he is or that name Aelis asks Arliss how he knows us. Xavier slowly begins to put his axe back onto his belt while beginning to look pale as his adrenaline is fading, when Aipholus points out to everyone that their birthmarks are all glowing. Arliss nods and recognizes there are many questions that need answering and invites the group to follow him, and as Arliss begins to move he snaps his fingers and a small dragon appears by the fallen bookcase and begins to move it back into place.

Arliss walks back to his desk and picks up a piece of paper that was on it. Arliss then walks over to Aipholus and hugs him and explains to him that if the group was there that he didn’t have much time left. Aelis walks over to Xavier who is laboring to stay conscious and resting on the bookshelf and asks him if he is ok. Just then the small dragon flies over to Xavier and lands on him, and when he does Xavier straightens right up and begins to limp over to the others as his wounds close up. The dragon returns to replacing things back on the bookshelf as Arliss tries to explain to the group that his time is limited and will explain all that he can remember as his memory is fading by the moment and he is returning to the dark.

With Arliss visibly struggling to think and remember Faelyn asks him if he brought the group to the tower with the dragon. Arliss thinking of a tower and he tells them that he was tring to bring them to him, and upon the mention of dragon Arliss says Nemic, and then thinking Arliss says no not Nemic. When he does the little dragon placing the books back turns and looks at him. Aipholus asks Arliss if he was the one who scribed the groups’ birthmarks. Arliss seems to know right away about the birthmarks and says yes, but with the help of Aipholus’ magic. Seeming to be struggling with himself Arliss starts rambling saying his name Arliss Corin, and that he is the last of the Dragonfire sages until now, and that he was chosen.

Returning to his thoughts and talk about the birthmarks Arliss says that Aipholus and Aelis were the ones who created them. Aipholus says that he has not the knowledge nor power to do such a thing and Aelis stands there surprised at the statement. With everyone in the group confused at this point Kern thinks now that somebody is lying to him, and Xavier calls Arliss a liar. As Xavier calls Arliss a liar Arliss’ face becomes wretched and looks sharply at Xavier and yells at him calling him a bastard son and that he will die for calling him a liar. Then just as fast as it came on Arliss’ face returned to normal and now looks sad. Arliss speaking about the birthmarks says to the group about some thoretical ritual and he was taught all that Aelis and Aipholus knew, and that the rest of them trusted that he could regain control when the time came. Still telling the group he doesn’t have much time left Arliss tries to explain things and says he will start at the beginning.

Struggling to still think Arliss begins to tell the group about a man that visited many years ago and claimed he wished to set things right. He didn’t tell him his name then but said that they would have to work together to fix the error of all. Painfully holding his head, Arliss struggles to think and keep it together. He tries hard to remember the mans name and starts muttering what he can recall and says Delancoir, Delancor, Delian Core, and then says he cant remember the name. Arliss tells them that Delancoir told them about things long past and things to come, and that he interfered with time and corrected the mistakes of the past. Arliss expalins to the group that they were part of the Ikator tribe led by Aipholus’ father the first human king Philis Thain in the year 42. Arliss explains that they were some of the first men, and that Aipholus’ was Philis’ youngest son born of a human father and elven mother. Arliss is seemingly in physical stress and slumps over for a moment painfully trying to hold it together and remember all that he can.

Arliss regains his composure slightly and continues to tell the group what he knows. Arliss says that Zastorian Delancor chose them and spoke to them about rising against them, and that is when they found Aelis who was born of Lilandian blood. Arliss says that Aelis served for many years as a diplomat to our people the iratians. Several of the group look confused and Faelyn says Erydians, and after a moment Arliss nods and says yes Erydians. Arliss tells the group that they were to kill Nirandir. Aipholus wonders if Arliss was the only survivor, and Arliss explains to them that it was made to look that way because of Xaviers plan. Xaviers plan was that when we failed we should leave behind instructions for us to return later. Arliss turns to Aipholus and says that you and Aelis worked on a ritual for me because he was the most likely to survive. Arliss tells them that Aipholus and Aelis invoked a demon and used magic to bind it within Arliss so that he could live. Arliss then tells the group that each of them is tattooed with a mark that was made by Aipholus, Aelis, and himself. The mark would bring them back from the dead, and every 100 years they would reseed. A little confused and thinking Arliss says it was Gareth who would reseed and be born again in the womb.

Weak and fading Arliss calls out to Faelyn, and he moves close to her and begins to hug her. Faelyn strangely accepts the hug and pats Arliss on the back. Arliss then gently kisses Faelyn on the cheek, and then on the forehead and the cheek again. Arliss calls Faelyn his love and in obivious pain still he says again that he doesn’t have long and lets her go.

Xavier demanding answers before something happens to Arliss, he wants to know why the group continues to be reborn. Arliss tells them that it was what we were meant to do, and that we must defeat Nirandir who returns again. Arliss painfully continues and tells the group that they need to start at the old ruins. The temple of Wayfare where there are six statues and that inside the statues are things that each person left for themselves. Arliss continues to try and speak but then falls to the ground in pain and holds his head. With great pain Arliss is crying on the ground and says that Vek’Lash is returning. The demon of Decanthur is returning with the burden of hell and that he senses the blood of Thalcia, now Arliss’ tears have turned to blood. Xavier now at the ready for anything asks Arliss if the group has to kill this demon and Arliss tells them that men can’t kill him. Aelis asks Arliss how they can get out of here, and almost out of breath Arliss says he can…one more time…then he closes his eyes. Arliss begins speaking in old Erydian with every breath now painful to him, and to Aipholus the words Arliss is speaking sound the same as the ones that were spoken on the outside of the door before the group ended up in the study.

Arliss coughs up blood as he is done speaking. He begins calling out for Faelyn calling her his love, and as he is doing so he is blindly reaching out for her. Faelyn moves in close to Arliss and as he feels her close to him he runs his hands through her hair one last time and slips a neclace around her neck. With one final breath Arliss speaks a line of old Erydian and falls unconscious.

The next thing the group knows is that they are standing in the woods and at that moment four dragons fly overhead. Confused, everyone is looking around wondering where they are and Aipholus wonders what time they are in now. Aelis looks at the woods and recognizes that the woods looks like the one by the Inn that they recently stayed at. Gareth agrees with Aelis that the woods do look similar to those close to the Inn. Kern is confused and says that his name is Wayfare, and wonders if the temple was named after him. Remembering what Arliss said about the temple of Wayfare and items left there from themselves the group decides that they should begin looking for where they just where not too long ago. As everyone is looking around figuring out which way to head out Gareth notices something in the woods across from them. The group sees a statue that has been almost covered by overgrowth. Kern makes his way to the statue followed by Xavier and then slowly by the others. As everyone is gathered around the overgrowth Xavier starts tearing the weeds off of it. Aelis also begins easily removing the overgrowth from the statue and as it is uncovered everyone notices a statue of Faelyn who is covered in a full body smock and her expression on the statue is astute.

Studying the statue carefully Xavier looks the statue over for markings or anything that would help him move or open it. Faelyn stares at the statue of herself looking at it, and looking to see if there is a necklace on it. Not noticing a necklace Faelyn sees something tucked in the hood part of the statue of herself. Faelyn carefully climbs up onto the statue and pulls out a scroll. Carefully examining the scroll Faelyn looks at it and says that it is written in the same writing that was seen before. The group now wondering why Faelyn left herself something that she could not read, and both Xavier and Kern sigh. Aelis suggests that maybe she left it for herself and wasn’t meant to read it right away.

Just then another dragon roars overhead above the forest. With no one finding any other statues around or anything else on the statue of Faelyn the group decides that it is time to move indoors to get out of sight of the dragons and head back to the Inn. The group then hears shouting nearby. The all turn towards the south were the shouting is coming from. Aipholus wondering if this was what Arliss was trying to tell them about changing the past, as Kern and Xavier get out their weapons and start to make their way south. The rest of the group follows as they head south towards the shouting…

The Lord's Carriage

As the party is now running towards the shouting to the south Xavier has the group hold up at the wood line to see what is happening. What the group sees is a battle ensuing with armored men defending a carriage, not very well, against women fighters who are armored with black and red leather scale and wielding glaives and katanas. The women fighters (redguard) are quickly killing off the carriage guard as the party lies in waiting discussing whether or not to jump into battle and who to fight. The decision is made simple once one of the remaining carriage guard shouts to his lord to flee with the women, and at the sound of lords and ladies in trouble the charge into battle is lead by Xavier. Roaring into battle with a battle cry Xavier charges up to the closest redguard to engage her followed by Kern who follows Xavier but stumbles as he closes in. The rest of the party attacks from a distance as to not get slaughtered like the rest of the carriage guard in viscous killing blows landed by one of the redguard. With the battle raging on the lord climbs to the top of the carriage to take off but Aelis yells to him to wait and that they are here to help him. With everyone including the lord fighting for their lives the group finally manages to put down the few redguard that were attacking.

With the battle over questions start to arise and Lord Talionis wants answers. Xavier introduces himself as a Sir and the lord then assumes that the group is Xaviers men at arms. As Xavier is making pleasantries with the lord, and the one remaining carriage guard Boris is tying up a remaining redguard that wasn’t dead, Kern begins shouting at the lord wondering who he thinks he is. Boris tries to hurry his lord into leaving before more dragons show up dropping off redguard. Lord Talionis’ daughter Vincenza steps out of the carriage wondering what is happening, and why Kern is so angry and still insulting Talionis. As the tension mounts between Kern, Boris who has now drawn his blade against Kern, and Talionis, Talionis offers the group payment for protection out of Falkenia to Rivton. The group slowly agrees to escort Talionis, and after complimenting Talionis about his daughters’ beauty Talionis offers his daughters’ hand in marriage to Aelis in exchange for guidance through the countryside. The group finally in agreement even with harsh comments and reluctance from Kern towards the lord gets on the carriage as Talionis, Vincenza, Xavier, and the one captured redgaurd ride inside. Boris, sitting next to Aelis, snaps the reins and the carriage takes off as a dragon roars overhead flying north.

The carriage journey continues for weeks until the dirt road finally gives way to a golden road. The carriage stops at the crossroads. Talionis gets out and begins to ask Boris and Aelis which way. Boris tells Talionis that east is the way, and then explains to him that north is the dwarven fort of Wintergate after Talionis asks. With the horses now becoming sick and hungry Boris suggests that they travel north for a day to get to Wintergate to get some rest. While the carriage is stopped at the crossroads Gareth casts comprehend languages to read the scroll written in Old Erydian that Faelyn found on her statue. Gareth reads the scroll and explains that he wrote it for Faelyn and that she is the reason they stay together. It also talked about dark tunnels and a Lake Lanal in south Falkenia where there are answers Gereth left for himself. Talionis asks Aipholus for his wisdom and guidance as a mage as to which way they should go. Aipholus also agrees and tells Talionis they should head north. After Gareth is done reading the scroll he begins to interrogate the redguard with the help of Xavier. With a complicated language barrier Gareth discerns the redguards name, and that she knows of Nirandir and calls Nirandir a god, and the group sinners. The group also notices her eyes when they blink they are reptilian in nature. Not getting as much information out of her as the group hoped Aipholus summons a ball of fire in his hand and holds it so the redguard can see it. Her eyes light up with the sight of the fire and then go black as Xavier knocks her out with the butt of his axe.

The carriage ride north becomes bitterly cold as most of the group is riding outside holding onto the carriage. Then after an hour a decent size city can be seen in the shadow of Wintergate keep. Pulling up, dwarven guards wave the carriage in and Boris pulls it up to the Lucky Lady. The party all walk into the Inn and warm up by the fire as Boris rents three rooms for the week. After procuring rooms for everyone Boris and Xavier go back outside to take care of the horses and carriage. Awhile later Aldar, Boris, Xavier, and Vincenza enter the Inn and join the others by the fire around some tables. Vincenza goes to warm up by the fire next to Aelis as Talionis pays for the rooms then joins the others. Talionis puts down on the table a platinum coin for each of the party in thanks of helping him. Everyone takes his or her coin except Kern who once again shows his hatred for the Falkenian lord. An argument ensues as Kern argues that offering someone for marriage as a bargaining chip is wrong. Aldar asks to speak with Gareth in private about marriage. As the group warms and drinks by the fire before retiring to their rooms Xavier asks Aelis if he is going to go through with the marriage.

The Kobulls

Our heroes begin their day by sleeping in the tavern and then reach the ground floor after an hour of preparation. On the ground floor below our heroes stand Kern and Faelyn and the two are loudly discussing the possibility of Kern leaving. As the conversation continues and the rest of our heroes join in they find a disgruntled Kern remarking “Falkenians are no better than rats” after a short explanation of how his entire family has been lost to war with rebels from the Empire. The party attempt to discuss Kern staying, even so far as Xavier to admit that the war which may be coming may require the Empire in order for victory to be certain. Kern disregards the comment and Xavier and Kern then throw a few insults before Kern remarks boldly; “No man makes my destiny. I am in control of myself and where I will go.”

Despite the group attempting to appease Kern he decides to leave after hearing Xavier comment that “We [the party] need you, we need your strength”. Kern remains unsatisfied and leaves the Tavern through its front door.

The party discusses the situation with Faelyn remarking; “If this were a sign of things to come, friends, I would say we’re not doing well.” Though her doubt is halted by Aipholus’ commenting that the situation with Kern may prove to be for the better. Meanwhile the Barmaid who has been listening while scrubbing the floors of the somewhat upscale tavern and inn comments that Kern was a poor tipper and an arse if she had ever seen one. The group chuckles and then engages her in conversation. They ask about the local mines and the Kobolds. The barmaid seems relatively unaware but does know that a mine had been overrun by Kobolds suddenly after collapsing a few tunnels quite diligently. She comments that the owners of the mine want it cleared out and that one group of men have already taken the job.

Our heroes then rush out after pardoning themselves and head to the Miner’s Guild, a location that Xavier knows after a “stroll last night”. The party quirks brows at his comment but ignores it and moves on following the young errant as he leads them to their destination.

Behind the counter they encounter a small dwarf who can barely speak common and seems intent on them joining the fight against the kobolds. He offers them 2 silver per kobold head that they bring to him and a shilling for their leader. After some discussion between Xavier and the Dwarf they settle on 2 silver, 2 copper and a gold and five silver for the kobold leader. In addition he offers them 1 silver for finding out why the kobolds attacked.

After plenty of questions and the borrowing of a bucket of mining tools, a large sack, a mining harness and 200 ft of rope the dwarf beckons for them to leave and return with kobold heads. The heroes leave and immediately head to the mine. After a single room and a fight with nearly 15 kobolds they discover the bodies of two dead mercenaries. They place their bodies carefully down and continue to another room. After a trap and another 15 kobolds (and a nasty ‘war pig’) our heroes sit and begin to wonder about their newfound treasure.

A Stranger in the Mines

As the party is examining an elven dagger that was found in one of the mineshafts more noise could be heard coming down the hallway. Xavier orders everyone to move against the walls just as rocks begin to fly into the room. To slow down anyone coming into the room Aipholus lays a bed of caltrops in the hallway just by the entrance to the room. With the kobolds still trying to hit anyone in the room they can barely see Xavier decides to take the kobolds head on knowing that Aipholus’ magic is still in the hallway. Xavier turns around the corner and charges the kobolds with all his might, and as he is running through the caltrops he steps on one just as he reaches the first kobold and stops dead in his tracks with shooting pain in his foot.

The kobolds now smiling at the sight of a wounded person they can fight soon turn to confusion and fear as they hear shouting and someone else charging up behind them. With blind rage the newcomer charging down the hall swings his sword and beheads the kobold closest to him sending a spray of blood that hits Xavier in the face. Wondering what the shouting is about the party moves into position to see down the hallway ready for whatever is happening, and while doing this Gareth moves out carefully and heals Xaviers pain with some of his magic. The remaining kobolds quickly die as they are now trapped in-between Xavier and the newcomer. With the kobolds now slain the party moves back into the room for cover and to see who this newcomer is. The group is introduced to Vhok, a man who is avenging his partners death from the kobolds while they were evacuating the mines. The group introduces themselves to Vhok, and asks him to join them on their mutual quest to rid the mines of kobolds. As the sounds of more kobolds is heard through the halls of the mine the group continues on further into the mine. Aelis still concentrating on sensing traps in the mine determines that in the upcoming room there is a danger of falling into a mine shaft that is just covered with rotten boards that will only support the weight of kobolds.

Carefully approaching the room with the shaft that is covered with rotten boards Xavier comes up with a plan to use the mining equipment given to them. The end of the rope is tied around Xavier and then wrapped around some of the pillars in the mine. The group holds onto the rope as Xavier slowly makes his way along the wall of the room to the next tunnel by placing pitons in the wall and using them to cross. Then untying the rope and the group pulling it back to them the rest of the group follows Xaviers lead and eventually makes it across the wall to the next tunnel. Without Aelis’ ability to sense traps anymore the group carefully proceeds and has to squeeze through the tunnel to get to the next room. While squeezing Xavier is attacked by a kobold from the next room. Pushing their way though the hall the group makes it out of the tight tunnel as the one kobold is killed that was seen.

With the problem of lighting in the tunnels Aelis casts a light spell on Xaviers shield so that he can always see. With everyone ready the group then continues into the next tunnel, which is also tight, and everyone has to squeeze through slowly. Approaching the next room the kobolds begin to attack the group, as they are stuck and coming out of the tight tunnel. Xavier charges into the room and begins attacking followed by Gareth and Vhok. Aipholus squeezes up and attacks the kobolds with his magic while the Aelis and Faelyn still are squeezing their way up into the room. While the battle is continuing Vhok casts a spell that covers his blade in blood and he swings it at the kobold in front of him. The kobold explodes as it is hit with Vhoks’ blade and bits and pieces of kobold cover the room and the party.

With the kobolds dead and the group wondering what just happened they question Vhok about his blade and the discharge of energy. Aipholus senses that Vhoks’ spell was necromantic in nature, and Vhok nods at Aipholus and tells them it was necromancy and that it was just a tool or trick. Xavier not convinced that Vhok is not evil for using necromancy, Aipholus, Aelis and the others try and explain the use of certain arcane and divine powers to Xavier. Explaining to him that there are different types of necromancy and to call all of it evil would not be true.

With a choice of which way to go now the group decides to go towards the south and check out those tunnels and leave the unfinished small crawlspace to the north for now. Once again squeezing through the small tunnel Xavier is cursing followed by Gareth and encounters a kobold with a pickaxe. Gareth moves back up the tunnel to give Xavier more room to deal with the kobold that is wildly swinging the pickaxe with two hands. Xavier approaches the kobold and attacks and kills him with one blow and as he does the pickaxe falls to the ground and turns into a spear. Confused, Xavier slowly moves into the room with the dead kobold, and not seeing anymore kobolds Xavier picks up the spear that used to be a pickaxe. Wondering what’s going on the rest of the group make their way down into the room and see the spear, which looks like the tip is made of raw mithril and slowly crumbling away but as it does it becomes reformed again. Aelis notices that there is more Lilandian writing on the spear just like the dagger that was found earlier in the caves. Aelis reads the writing out loud “Son of elf, high on high. Anallrath be; tears and I. Forgotten and lost. Once and found. Forever remade. Forever bound".

Hearing the name Anallrath, Faelyn seems to remember something and explains to the group that he was a hero of ancient lore and that this spear could possibly be the ancient weapon used to kill dragons. Wondering how something so fragile looking could kill dragons Xavier hands the spear to Aelis and asks him to gently attack him with the spear. Aelis gently pokes Xavier with the spear and as he does the tip easily goes through some of his links of armor, and at that same moment Aelis feels a sudden sadness as the spear turns into a club right in his hands. Now very curious Xavier takes the club from Aelis and smashes it against the beam in the mine and the club turns into a battleaxe, and Xavier feels a sharp mental pain. Faelyn takes the battleaxe carefully and examines it thinking of Anallrath and smiles.

With the group at the end of the mines and in agreement not to use the strange shape-changing weapon they decide to leave the mine after they collect various items that the kobolds had stashed throughout the mine along with the heads of the dead kobolds. On the way out the group stops by the smaller shaft and contemplates if they are going to inspect it or just go. Then finally Faelyn decides she will crawl through the small opening to see what’s on the other side. Tying the rope to Faelyn, in case she gets in trouble, she slowly makes her way to the other side of the small tunnel and finds an opening that looks like how the kobolds entered the mines.

With all the kobolds dead and their heads collected along with the dead mercenaries’ items the group heads back to the mining guild along with their newfound companion Vhok to collect the bounty for their work rendered. After receiving payment at the guildhall the group exits onto the street and wonders if Vhok is going to permanently join them.

Ambush in the Alleyways

After the parties work in the mines they discuss with Vhok on the way back to the Inn that that Talionis would likely hire Vhok. Vhok then departs to the miners’ guild to inform them of his leave as the rest of the group arrives back at the Inn. The party sits around a table in the Inn making small talk and having a few drinks while waiting for Talionis and they notice the Inn bustling with patrons and many men at arms wearing symbols of Falkenia.

Lord Talionis and Boris make there way downstairs from their room and join the group at a table downstairs in the Inn. Boris informs the group that two Falkenian nobles were killed last night in Wintergate. With the news of this the group presses Talionis to get ready and they should leave immediately, but Talionis says he has some buisiness still and that the group will be leaving tomorrow for Rivton. Talionis also mentions that Aipholus and himself would go speak to Lord Magnus leader of Wintergate before they leave.

Boris leaves the table upon Talionis’ request to make preparations and he leaves the Inn. While Boris is gone the group continues to speak with Talionis, and most of the talk is about addressing Lord Magnus properly while in his court and the state of the less fortunate in the city of Wintergate. Talionis also inquires about the work in the mines and how that went. Boris returns to the Inn and rejoins the group and informs Talionis that the preparations have been made and that they should leave. With that the group gets up from their table and after Faelyn removes her surcoat with Talionis’ mark on it they make their way outside into the cold winter night.

As the group makes their way down different back streets and alleyways following Boris and Talionis through Wintergate a man is seen falling into the snow out in front of the group (for those who have low-light vision). The man is stabbed in the back and killed by a large orcish looking woman. With Aelis and Aipholus seeing what happened they warn the group to arm themselves and be ready. The orcish woman Tukar is joined by two others a MALE halfling Dedra, and another human male Gaylord. Words are exchanged between the groups, as Xavier wants the mercenaries to lower their weapons and the mercenaries want Lord Talionis. The mercenaries some how seem to know Lord Talionis as they speak to him and want him. Another figure steps out of the shadows from behind the mercenaries wearing a mask and cloak and carrying a staff. More words are exchanged as the groups start threatening each other and it looks like combat is going to follow. Gareth steps up and casts a spell with the hopes to scare off the mercenary group and it almost works until the masked man Sylphi commands them to stay. With that the tensions boil over and combat ensues.

Xavier and Boris rush into battle against the three mercenaries swinging wildly and missing. Tukar, Dedra, and Gaylord smile at seeing Boris again and having the opportunity to kill him. The three at every chance they get begin to slash and stab Boris sending blood everywhere. The rest of the party jumps into battle including Talionis throwing daggers at his enemies but missing every time. Slyphi begins attacking the party with magic missiles send the first ones pounding into Gareth. Aipholus sees this and returns the favor by sending missiles back towards Slyphi only for his to be blocked by a magical field.

Boris now almost bleeding to death has no option but to fall back to the rest of the group for fear of being killed. This leaves Xavier open to attack from the three mercenaries and Xavier begins to take the stabs and slashes of his enemies despite all he could do to return the attacks. As Boris has some of his wounds healed Xavier draws his axe and connects with the large orc woman Tukars head splitting it in two killing her instantly. More missiles fly into Gareths chest as he slumps to the ground. Aelis and Faelyn rush to his aid and save him from dying. Xavier continues to take blows from the remaining mercenaries as Boris comes back to aid him. With the masked man Slyphi moving back further into the alleyway Aelis calls upon the plant life from the sewers below to grow and trap him from leaving. Angered at this Slyphi sends more missiles at the group hitting Faelyn as she falls to the ground, and then summons an electric ball that slams into Xavier. As Xaviers wounds collect to be too much he falls. Gareth having just been brought back prays to his god and raises Xavier up with his healing touch along with Faelyn. Then with a combined group push the rest of the mercenaries are finally dispatched.

Lord Talionis explains to the group that these mercenaries where ones that he had hired to do a job and retrieve the mask that Slyphi was wearing, and that they did their job but decided to keep it instead. In retaliation Lord Talionis locked up what remaining families the mercenaries had in his lands, but they later attempted a jailbreak which is only punishable by death. The thief was hired to lure out the mercenaries into this alleyway and that he did his job and paid with his life for being a thief.

With Talionis in possession of the mask again that he wanted in the first place and the mercenaries dead the group decides to head back to the Inn with Talionis and Boris after collecting what belongings the dead mercenaries had on them.

Trouble in Rivton

As the party continues on towards Rivton in the cold weather the trip is pretty much uneventful except for some standard repairs to the carriage of a long journey. The road now has turned to brick and is stamped with the marks of Erydian rulers through out the ages that built the golden road. As the travel continues various peoples are seen coming and going along the road, and after a week of travel the carriage is stopped on the road by two military looking men, which looks like they also have a small camp behind them.

After stopping the carriage the group learns that they can’t continue on the road in that direction due to bodies everywhere from fighting between Duke George Lord Hallibur of Erydia and some Falkenians. The group learns that Falkenians have been crossing the boarders and sacking towns and claiming lands. After Boris converses with Lord Talionis the group turns the carriage and cart around and heads back to another road that will take them around the fighting and to Rivton.

As the carriage ride continues for hours finally the end of the hills is near and on one of the last hills coming down it the horses begin to shudder as they near the edge of the road. The carriage wobbles and slides off the road and into the mud, and as it does it buries one of the wheels deep into the mud, cocking (yeah that’s right I said cocking) the carriage up into the air on one side. As this happens Boris, wearing all his metal armor, slides off the top and lands face down into the mud with a Splat! Aelis carefully slides off the top and hops down into the mud to try and help Boris up. Needing more help, Vhok rushes over to help Boris up out of the mud. Seeing all of this happening in front of them, Aipholus, Faelyn, and Gareth slow their cart down before the mud. While busy freeing Boris from the mud a large ogre charges out of the underbrush seeing easy prey stuck in the mud. Running up the ogre bashes Aelis with its large club. Combat ensues with those stuck in the mud helpless and having to fight the ogre where they stand. Vhok and Boris attack the ogre as Faelyn begins to sing from the cart to the others. After intense combat with the ogre and Aipholus’ flame missing the ogre Aelis sets the ogre on fire burning it to death.

With the party now healed from combat, they attach a rope to Pokey and help drag the carriage out of the mud. Cleaning themselves off a little everyone gets back into the carriage and the cart and the group continues their journey to Rivton. After nearly three more weeks and a very long boat ride the group arrives in the outskirts of Rivton. A large city nearly six times the size of Falkenport, Rivton is the 'second capital' of the Erydian Empire. Known throughout the empire as the Gem of the Sea, particularly as a result of being seated on the Amund Sea. Rivton's large brown walls seem dirty and the city itself, similar to Erydia Major, is massively over-populated. The group nears the city and stops at the gates and is questioned by the guards. The one request the guard has, which is very odd, is that all weapons must be put away before entering the city under the Dukes new law. Once the guard checks to make sure all weapons are out of sight the carriage and cart are allowed into the city.

Rivton is a beautiful city and an example of modern building. Having packed their streets with vagrants and citizens the city has begun building upwards. Multiple storied buildings pack the streets and the paved roads are packed with not only the dirt and horse shit on the ground but people as well. The stench of overpopulation; piss, shit, and of course vomit fill the air and remind all of our heroes of the pleasantries of medieval city life. As time progresses however our heroes in their caravan move through the streets and go under a large stone arch. Once pass this arch the surroundings clear up. The two noble guardsman wave the caravan on and they now find themselves in a very pleasant part of town. Noble homes, yards and gardens now separate lots of land from each other and our players find themselves approaching a large stone wall with an iron fence.

The group reaches Talionis’ manor house and is greeted at the front gate by an very old and slow guard who bears Talionis’ coat of arms. Boris explains to the old guard that Talionis is back and that he is now the captain of his guard. Before the group can even get through the front gates a robed man rushes up to the carriage pleading for help. The robed man explains to Talionis that the church of Saint Karipos is in danger, and that every man sent into the cathedral has not returned. Talionis orders the group as his last request as an employer to go and check out the cathedral except Xavier who he wants to stay with him. The party minus Xavier then follows the robed monk quickly to the front of the cathedral.

Once at the front of the cathedral the robbed monks explain to the party that even the armed men that have been sent in to investigate have not returned. Also that there is the front entrance AND ANOTHER ENTRANCE NEAR THE VESITBULE. The Sanctuary of Saint Karipos has its vestibule in the back of the altar as part of the cathedral itself. It is on the side and is next to the stairs, which lead to the catacombs. The robbed priest also explains that in the catacombs are various dead saints and families ALONG WITH A SMALL LIBRARY.

With information in hand the party decides to go in the front doors quietly and investigate. The party enters the cathedral and finds no resistance to begin with and travels down to one side of the cathedral into a room, which houses the spiral staircase that leads to the upper level. Once in the room the party is attacked by multiple small draconians, which resembles both Kobold and Dragon. The party manages to fight them off and proceed into the next room, which also has more draconians. After fighting off another group of them the party has to decide what to do next….

Santa CLAWS

Rivton, while a city comparable in size to Erydia, appears to be less forgiving to our heroes than the golden city. Our heroes, weary from journey and fighting look to one another cautiously. Aelis returns from his daydream and the group slowly creeps into the large tower and looks up. Hearing the sounds of more creatures they are wary, but make a run for the door regardless.

Back in the foyer our heroes look about and realize all too soon that the situation is direr than they believed. With noises about them and creatures moving in the halls and walls our heroes stay huddled close and approach the northern-most stairwell bastion. Moving towards the door slowly Aelis’ ears perk. Aipholus turns to him; “what is it?” he mouths but Aelis shakes his head to indicate it is nothing. The two frown and Aelis moves to the door that the guardsman Vhok is leaning against. Vhok shakes his head to Aelis, whispering…”These doors are too thick. I cannot hear” and Aelis agrees with him.

A moment passes as our heroes shuffle into their positions and Vhok opens the door wide with weapon in hand. Now in front of him, having stepped to avoid the door is a draconic creature! Vhok readies his weapon and grips the hilt with anger as the muscular beast steps forward. Half man, half dragon this creature looks terrifying even to the most determined of our heroes. Muscular and scaley is shares traits with both a kobold and the dragons seen in Falkenia.

Charging, the creature engages Vhok and two more rush to its aid. Magic flies across the hall as Aipholus sends his weave towards them and then suddenly one of them disappears. The group looks confused; all but Aipholus who sees the creature has teleported infront of him. What manner of beast can move through space and time? No matter- it is here.

The fight continues and the group slays the last of the beasts after its attempt at running away. Attempting to head up the stairwell a few of our heroes wonder and note, Faelyn in particular, where it was heading. Our heroes look the beasts over and realize they wear rough leathers atop their scales almost as if they were men.

The group decides to press on and moves to the nearest door into the sanctuary. Vhok pushes it open and steps out and suddenly, the noise the entire group had heard moments ago, leaps down at Vhok. Another dragonling of some sort with its claws and wings swipes at Vhok twice before he bats it to the floor with his sword. Angry and irritated the young soldier kicks the husk across the room.

It is now that Aipholus notices… ....It is now that he sees the creature…

Wondering curiously Aipholus moves to the corpse of the dragonling and observes it. “A child” he comments, his friends reply with questions. “It is covered in mucus as if it were a newborn.” Aipholus thinks on this. “Lets move. We should go into the main hall”. And into the main hall our heroes go…

Arriving in what appears to be a slaughter our heroes remember the priests mention mass occurring when the attack happened. Nearly twenty thousand, no doubt, lay inside and strewn about. Pews covered in blood and dragonlings sitting on perches with arms and legs to feed upon is the décor of the room and our heroes begin to have their stomachs turn with disgust.

Suddenly across the way upon the altar our heroes notice a lone man laying. The group dives into a steady run across the field of bodies though Aipholus walks at a slower and brisk pace. Our heroes arrive at the altar and see a priest of the church, no doubt an Acolyte of Karipos. As Gareth and Vhok begin to open their mouths to speak they are quieted by the loud roar beneath them.

Suddenly the ground lifts beneath Aipholus and Faelyn sending Aipholus tumbling down and back into the bodies. Faelyn balances and can feel the weight of the creature underground pushing upon the floor to escape the confines of below. Pushing, it roars and she can hear it loudly. It fills the air and our heroes are petrified with fear.

“Time to go!” yells Aipholus as he gets up. Vhok turns to Gareth and Gareth looks to the man as a magical barrier protects him. The man whimpers and dispels the shield after a brief discussion.

Our heroes make quick work to leave the temple and learn that the creature, a dragon of some sort, has invaded the temple during mass and slaughtered thousands. He explains that the rest of the creatures our heroes see weren’t here with him originally and that his amulet protected him from the beasts. This conversation is interrupted however by a familiar voice.

The man from the Two Towers with his dragon who burned both Faelyn and killed the Falkenian..Could it be his voice? It floods the large room as our heroes attempt to escape and battle more creatures upon their exit. The man asks; “Who are you that haunts my nightmares?” and to his surprise Aipholus replies. “Those who are hear to destroy you!”

Our heroes exit and return to Lord Talionis for rest, supplies, and possibly answers.

Quest for the Bishop

As the party continued to distribute the items from Talionis’ chest that he offered them the day began to come to an end. As it does Boris and Vhok along with the old guard are ordered to stand watch for the night outside to make sure the riff-raff don’t try and enter the manor while the dragon is out rampaging the city. Aipholus, Aelis, Faelyn, Gareth, and the new dwarf Delgen that Talionis has employed head downstairs to a small room where they make their beds and try and rest for their journey back to the cathedral to try and rescue the bishop. As they fall asleep downstairs Delgen remains sleeping while the other four seem to wake up in a room that is pure white. Wondering what is going on “again” and thinking they might be in some sort of dream like before they proceed back up the stairs which once again is black and no light is penetrating it. Once upstairs they head outside to see what could only be a nightmare. Bodies of everyone strewn about the ground mangled and torn apart, and the city in ruin and burning. Aelis sees his love Vincenza hewn in two and up against a tree. He runs to her and holds her crying while the others inspect the dead and try and figure out what is happening. Still with so many questions a strong wind rises and looks like fire coming towards the group Aelis drops Vincenza and holds his shield up ready for anything and begins to yell at the wind. As the bellow of fire approaches the group just before it gets to them a large fiery eye is seen by the group and then they wake back up in the basement of the manor startling Delgen who was fast asleep.

With the image of imminent doom the group grabs their belongings and races back upstairs to see if everything is all right. Seeing that nothing has changed yet the group wonders if they have seen an image of what is to come if nothing is done. Faelyn argues with Talionis about having to warn everyone in the city about leaving due to the dragon and the foresight of everyone dead and the city destroyed. The others urge to leave and rescue the bishop as soon as possible, and after a few more minutes the party grabs everything and heads back to the cathedral.

Once at the cathedral the group heads around to the side where the monks/priests had previously mentioned that there is another entrance and it is close to the way to the catacombs. Seeing more small flying draconians through the broken stained glass windows the group prepares for battle and has Delgen lead them in. Once in the room combat ensues and the party quickly kills the few flying draconians. With many choices as to which way to go now and many doors the party listens to each door and decides on one to open. The door opens and they see a room with draconians and the larger grunts staring them down. The group decides to battle at the doorway. With Delgen taking up the doorway and the party failing to tell him that the grunts can line of sight teleport he waits to attack the grunts then they disappear. Stunned by seeing this, a draconian flies in and mortally slashes Delgen and he falls dead to the ground. The battle turns into a circular battle with the grunts teleporting into the party and the draconians flying around. Aid is quickly brought to Delgen with the surprise that he is not dead but almost. The battle continues and the grunts and draconians are finally killed. With the group not finding what they were looking for they decide to go back out and try another doorway. This time the door they open is the right one. The party sees a circular stairway that leads down, but it has been enlarged by something and also there is a large hole in the wall that something has used to enter and exit. The stairwell smells of sulfur and semen….yes dragon semen. The group cautiously descends the stairwell.

Once at the bottom of the stairs the party enters the tunnels of the catacombs. The first room they come to has four sealed doors with the markings of various noble and religious families that are buried in tombs. Searching for any signs of the bishop hopefully being down in the catacombs Aelis notices that one of the doors has been moved recently. After a few moments the party unlocks the simple lock on the door to the tomb and all but Delgen and Faelyn enter the family crypt. On an altar in the middle of the tomb lies what looks to be the former Duke of Rivton. With closer inspection it is revealed that just a peasant is dressed up in Dukes clothing and has been poisoned to death. There is no other evidence that it is just not a peasant. There is no royal seal around his neck, and his physical appearance is one of a peasant.

With the group wondering why someone would go through the effort of burying a peasant in a royal family tomb there is still the question of where is the bishop and is the dragon sleeping in the room next to them….

From Outpost to Cathedral

Still in the tomb of the nobles in the catacombs of the cathedral Vhok and Aipholus finish examining the room and the man dressed up to look like the lord of the lands. On the way out of the tomb Vhok bumps into the slab on which the man is laying on and his arm falls over revealing something in his hand that he was holding as it falls to the floor. Aipholus picks up a small white orb that slowly changes his appearances as he holds it as Vhok tells his it has some sort of transmutation magic on it, and the man on the slab looks considerably more peasant like without holding the orb.

Continuing on through the tunnels Delgen takes the lead far ahead of the others and down the next corridor the body of the Bishop is found dead with one of his hands gnawed off. While examining the dead Bishop Gareth notices an egg in the distance. Delgen continues on down the catacombs and examines the egg, and when Gareth comes to examine the egg closer Delgen slowly continues on into the darkness. With the sound of the dragon that could be heard not too far from Delgen and him seeing something moving the group decides its time to leave. Upset that Gareth couldn’t take the egg with him he leaves, and as the party is making its way back towards the stairs where Vhok and Aelis placed the dead Bishop the catacombs begin to shake violently and the walls and ceiling begins to crumble and cave in. With the cave in happening all around them Aipholus and Aelis make it back to the stairwell while the others are getting bashed and knocked around from falling debris. Seeing that the others will be buried in the cave in Aipholus pulls a scroll out from his pouch that he got from Talionis’ house and READS it aloud. As he does the ceiling stabilizes for a moment and the party can safely escape the catacombs with their lives.

The party makes their way back to Talionis’ house with the dead Bishop and arrives there to the gate being open and the front door closed. Cautiously investigating the group slowly enters Talionis’ house and finds no one there and nothing disturbed. Delgen slowly moves towards the door to the basement and just as he is opening it Talionis opens it from the other side and they scare each other half to death. Talionis explains to the party that there were robbers and they were hiding in the basement from them. After coming out of the basement the party explains to Talionis that they have retrieved the body of the Bishop and Talionis is upset that he is dead and says that he will not know his answer.(what ever the question was we don’t know). The group also explains that they found another body lying in the crypt of the Dschint family and it was dressed and disguised to look like Lord Dschint but it was just a peasant. With this information Talionis orders the group to one last task, to retrieve the Dschint peasant body and to destroy the dragon. Lady Vincenza also during this time was speaking to Aelis and mentioning that Talionis was talking of leaving Rivton and going to Erydia.

With the party resting briefly and equipping themselves to face the dragon in the cathedral Delgen explains a plan to the party. It consists of tying ropes around the columns in the main hall and when the dragon comes down to go into the catacombs it will bring down the cathedral on itself. In agreement as to carry out this plan the party heads off back to the cathedral and into the back entrance again to the catacombs. With a lot of hard work the group finally moves enough rock out of the way to reach the Dschint family crypt and takes the imposter body out and back upstairs outside of the cathedral.

With one part of their final task completed from Talionis the party cautiously heads back into the main cathedral room and Delgen takes out rope to begin working on the trap to bring down the dragon. As he begins clapping is heard and the armored man from the outpost is seen coming around the corner towards the party. Not understanding what he is speaking the armored man starts to speak basic Erydian that he says he learned from the torture of his enemies. He tells the group that he was sent here to watch the hatching. Delgen speaks to the armored man trying to frighten him but it doesn’t work. The Delgen quickly moves across the room towards the rest of the group and the armored man sees this as an act of aggression and quickly strikes at Vhok with both his curved blades. Battle then ensues despite the attempts of trying to reason with the armored man to stop. The party begins to battle the armored man and as he is taking hits he cries out to his god Nirandir to help him in some way and he bursts into fire. Aelis then douses him with water and fire goes out. While the party is attacking with magic missiles and lightning along with melee attacks Vhok is waiting for the opportune moment. Then unleashing powerful attacks against the armored man Vhok brings him down and the party has defeated the armored man from the outpost, but at what cost…

The Fall of the Drake

With the final slash across his chest and magic bursting into his back the man in red armor fell to the ground with the cracking sound of metal on stone, his katanas dropping with him as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Wishing to escape quickly our heroes check him and determine he is alive yet. Pulling his body towards the exit they finish setting up the trap for the dragon and begin to leave as the beast comes crashing through the ceiling; springing the trap with them inside!

Our heroes flee as quickly as possible as gigantic pillars, tapestries, and stained glass windows come crashing around them. A wave of dust follows before passing them as they exit the building and attempt to dodge debris. As the dust clears they look around; everyone is alive and fine and the bodies of Duke Dschinct's imposter and the dragon-man are with them. Suddenly they hear footsteps and see a man approaching with many others.

Introducing himself as Aubin, he claims to be the man-at-arms in charge in Rivton under the duke. Aipholus quickly points to Delgen; claiming he is responsible for the falling of the church which arouses Aubin's curiosity. While Aubin disagrees that the Church will be happy with this, he himself and the Duke are and would surely be happy. Aubin invites our heroes to dinner with the Duke.

Heading back to Talionis home our heroes begin questioning Lithin and learn the following information. [list] [*]The creature our heroes killed was not a dragon, but was a drake. This "drake" creature is unknown to any of the heroes. [*]Lithin stated "the dragons have not yet arrived". [*]Lithin, and his counterparts, serve Nirandir the Dragon God. [*]He and others have been sent to kill any who are worshipping false gods; that is people who do not worship Nirandir in his true form. [*]Lithin maintains that all Gods are Nirandir; they just simply were known by other names. [*]Lithin recognized the mark on the flesh of our heroes; their birthmarks. They're aware this birthmark binds them in some way to the current situation.[/list]

To protect him from the others, Faelyn steps infront of Lithin- very close to him. After explaining the birthmarks to Delgen and Vhok, Aelis steps closer to Faelyn while mentioning the birthmarks. Suddenly Lithin begins gurgling on his own blood. As the heroes turn to view him blood spills rom his mouth, nose, and ears as he chokes on his own liquids before dying. Our heroes notice their birthmarks glowing,

Our heroes return to Talionis and are told a messanger has arrived and they are to meet a "Oluver Cartwright" in the Ducal Palace. In addition; the Duke has confirmed feast tonight. Our heroes are measured by Tailors before heading to Cartwright.

Once to cartwright they are told that he recognized them while they were leaving the cathedral. He knew that he had seen Aipholus somewhere and so he began to go through his old books. Sure enough in one of his books stood the likeness of Aipholus. Oluver recognizes Faelyn too by description and reads off a song that she is famous for; a song Faelyn has written, according to her, in THIS lifetime.

Oluver provides many insights to the group and after Gareth's insight into them looking for Wayfarer temple, Oluver mentions Galmau of Burdshire, a warrior-poet who may live west of Rivton. Oluver provides some insight into the area and thanks our heroes for their time. They return to Talionis' estate to prepare for the dinner with the Duke.

Into the Wild

We the party traveling through the wilderness westward towards the mountains for many weeks they finally see a small village over the next few hills. Just then while leading the group through the wild Aelis hears ogres nearby and tells the rest to prepare themselves for a fight. The ogres charge the slow moving caravan of horses and a mule and cart and combat ensues. One ogre attacks Gareth and knocks him flat on the ground, and the other who is armored comes charging out of the wood and smashes the wagon sending it and all the groups items on the wagon flying. With catlike reflexes Faelyn ducks out of the way of the cart which was hurled through the air towards her. While Delgen and Vhok deal with the ogres Faelyn shoots at them with her crossbow while Aipholus and Aelis hurl fire magics at them. Finally after regrouping the party defeats the two ogres with not too much serious damage to themselves except for Gareth who got clobbered at the beginning of the battle.

Our heroes sulk over the mess and find that the horse survived the attack, albeit with quite a few scrapes and bruises. They're gear is repacked into the cart and they make the rest of the way on foot, holding their horses by the reigns ready for an attack. No attack comes however, and they reach the wooden palisade walls of the village. Standing atop the guard tower is a hooded individual, rain pours onto his hood and his dark shadowed form then speaks.

After conversing with the gate guard Merick for some time before he finally lets the party in they find out from him: -Galmau the ogre slayer hasn’t been seen around in about a month’s time. -The leader of the ogres that has been attacking is Borox and he is intellegent and has hired men before. -Galmau comes down from the mountains with his bear. -Xavier has passed through looking for Galmau about a month ago. -Kern passed through using the name Gareth and took the Thatcher who knew where Galmau lives. -Elves have passed by Ketral to head up into the mountains to see Galmau. -Borox wants the town to bring its grain to their cave. -There is a blacksmith in town.

Seeking shelter the party heads to the Sinful Prior, which is the local Inn. While there they meet an old woman that is the barkeep. While drinking some ale they learn that there was one note left at the Inn and it was a note from Xavier, which was written by the barkeep for him. (SEE WWPD LORE for the NOTE) The last thing learned from the old barkeep woman is that Merick is in charge now that everyone else has been killed and she hasn’t seen her husband now for some time after he went out to get fire wood.

With information in hand the party stays overnight in whatever accommodations are available and prepare a plan to “deliver the grain” to Borox and his ogres.

The Ogre Cave

With the party shown the way to the ogre cave they stop about ten minutes away from it so that Faelyn can carefully sneak up to it and scout out the situation. As she leaves Aelis turns himself into a hawk and flies overhead watching her. While out scouting Faelyn learns that there are three entrances to the ogres cave. The first is a very deep and strong river, another is a shallow slow river that the ogres can’t get through and the last is the front cave entrance, which has stone work although with Lilandian writing. Also while out scouting she learns that there are a few ogres in the cave along with Borox.

With information in hand the party slowly advances to the main cave entrance and lures out one ogres with a ghost sound and while the ogre is wandering out of the cave after a wounded animal it wants for dinner the group jumps the ogre and slays it rapidly.

Thinking they can do this again the party tries albeit with no response as they wait for a long time in the woods for anything to come out of the cave. Growing impatient Aipholus sneaks around to the side of the cave to go into the shallow river entrance as Faelyn sneaks into the main cave entrance. While sneaking an ogre spots her and comes up to her and with disbelief that she is even real taps her with his massive ogre finger knocking her down. As she gets up to run away the ogre howls with rage alerting the others and Borox of intruders. Faelyn makes it just barely outside the cave as she is knocked unconscious by the ogre, but luckily her companions where there at the cave entrance and engaged the ogre. While battling the first ogre another appears and by the time he gets into battle he has to step over his fallen ogre companion.

While this is all happening Borox is charging out of his home when he spots Aipholus coming into the small river entrance. Aipholus barely escapes Borox as he retreats back into the narrow river entrance where Borox can’t fit. Giving up on Aipholus Borox runs out to the main cave entrance, which is blocked by one dead ogre and another on top of it.

Aipholus once again sneaks back into the cave from the small river entrance and sees that Borox and the others are occupied at the front entrance so he decides to attack Borox. Aipholus’ ray hits Borox, which makes him turn and chase after Aipholus. Seeing this the group finishes off the last ogre at the cave entrance, which is now completely blocked off with dead ogres so they have to drag them aside to get in.

Aipholus continues to run and fire at Borox while the others case into the cave to try and help Aipholus. Gareth scoops up Faelyns body and hides her in some undergrowth for the time being. Chasing Borox through the cave they enter a large room, which was once used for millwork and powered by the strong river. With Delgen and Vhok chasing after Borox, and Aipholus still firing magic at him Aelis calls down lightning and strikes the final blow to Borox who is standing in the water along with Vhok. With Borox dead and beginning to slip into the water, and Vhok slightly electrified the group manages to anchor Borox with his large leg so that he doesn’t get swept away in the water.

Going back outside and bringing Faelyn back to the room where Borox is dead she is healed and now awakes. With Gareth wanting to kill Borox where he lay the rest of the group wants to question him before they kill him. With everyone ready to attack if anything happens Aelis heals Borox and he awakens.

Borox converses with Aelis in Lilandian and he tells the rest what is being said. Learning that Borox was waiting for them and not wanting his legacy to be lost Borox reaches into his large pouch and takes out a journal. Borox throws his journal up towards Aipholus who picks it up and looks at it finding that it is written in Lilandian. Aelis takes the journal and reads it to the others, and after Aelis finishes reading Aipholus sends magic missles flying at Borox killing him.

Gareth severs Boroxs’ head to take back and when he does the body of the ogre turns into that of an elf. The party searches the remains of the ogre cave and finds many magical items along with various other things the ogres have taken.

Galmau's Outpost

As the party is lead up the mountain by the Thatchers’ son they eventually arrive at an old Erydian outpost made of thick stone and with a tower a couple stories tall. They have a pretty good idea that they have reached Galmau’s residence seeing how the stone outpost is surrounded with pikes with the skulls of ogre heads on them.

Reaching the front door they are met by no one, Delgen knocks on the front door and as he does a small wooden pedestal appears next to him with a grid of colors and various colored cut gems around the edge of the board. Delgen can feel the magic coming from the pedestal without even being magically adept. Aipholus detects magic on their surroundings and can tell that there is strong protection magic active where they are standing, and he takes a step back out of the area. Just then Delgen decides to touch the puzzle on the pedestal and as he does the party, minus Aipholus, are surrounded by a prismatic sphere. Trapped on the outside of the sphere Aipholus shouts to the others and thankfully he can hear them still inside the sphere. While trapped on the inside of the sphere the party can see outside and still talk to Aipholus. With no other options Delgen decides to continue to place and remove gems from the board, and with one wrong move a giant arc of pure magic leaps from the board and strikes Delgen sending him reeling.

Delgen, Faelyn, and Vhok all try their luck at the puzzle board and many times they all received the same fate as Delgen. Gareth provided them with many healing spells so that they may hopefully escape their magical prison. Aelis while relaying everything that is going on back to Aipholus hears movement many times from the other side of the door, and attempts many times in various languages to get a response from inside. Eventually Delgen, Vhok, and Faelyn figured out the correct sequence of gems on the board to release the prismatic sphere.

With everyone healed up from the puzzle the party slowly starts to enter the outpost. Within the front door there is another door and detecting magic only reveals that outside by the pedestal is still magical. Upon opening the second door the party sees a whole array of draconian type figures and a man inside. A few of the smaller ones take flight and fly up and out of the outpost, while one of the smaller ones uses its line of sight teleport and disappears. This now leaves three armored draconians and the armored man. Vhok rushes to the front with Delgen, while the armored man is shouting something in dracionian. The armored man moves closer to the group and to some of their surprise the man is Kern. Words are exchanged between Aelis and Kern, along with Faelyn and Kern as Kern orders the armored draconians to attack.

Faelyn Tavendor: Kern! What are you doing??? Kern Wayfarer: You never understood and I see Xavier led you right to me. Kern Wayfarer (Yell): You'll die just as he did! Aelis Iatriamil: What?! Aelis Iatriamil: You killed Xavier? WHy? Faelyn Tavendor: You coward!!! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): No! I didn't kill Xavier! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): He killed himself! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): You all will kill yourselves! Faelyn Tavendor: Why are you fighting us??? Kern Wayfarer (Yell): You don't understand your destinies! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): You tried to cheat death by bringing yourselves back! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): Nirandir has seen through your plot! Faelyn Tavendor: Is it your destiny to turn against us? Kern Wayfarer (Yell): He killed each of you a thousand times, preventing his own death! Aelis Iatriamil: How do you know this? Kern Wayfarer (Yell): He has SPOKEN TO ME! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): He has chosen ME as his messanger of death to this world of sinners! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): My memory hasn't returned to me yet... Kern Wayfarer (Yell): But I know what was done! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): Nirandir has reminded me of the path undertaken! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): Do you even know why you fight his power?! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): Nirandir has a new vision for Erydia and it doesn't include any of you! Kern Wayfarer (Yell): You killed him once, and you won't kill him again!

Battle ensues as the party fights their tough armored draconian attackers. Everyone does all they can to survive the battle. Faelyn sound bursts the group of attackers including Kern, while Aipholus fires magic missles. Delgen and Vhok try to hold the line, but the attack is too much and Vhok falls. Gareth standing right behind Vhok brings him back many times as the attackers keep knocking him down. Aelis summons lightning bolts down on the foes until he sees Vhok fall then summons a power lion to aid them in their battle for their lives. While Vhok was down one of the draconian attackers moved in on the group and around towards Faelyn to take care of her for hurting him and stunning him with sound bursts. Seeing the threat and death coming Aipholus takes out the magical mask and puts it on. With one final push the party defeats their attackers and highly damaged Kern starts to run. Firing magic missles Aipholus almost falls Kern, but with Delgen and Vhok right on his heels Kern escapes Aipholus’ line of sight. Turning the corner the group can hear something large outside and with Kern opening the last door to escape to the outside Delgen sees a large drake right in front of him with a saddle on it. The drake sees Delgen and roars at him, and seeing their foe about to escape Delgen charges at Kern despite of the drake and lands his axe right into the back of Kern killing him. The drake grabs for Kerns body and as it does Delgen grabs the other side of Kerns body and stops the drake momentarily from taking the body. The drake then easily pulls Kern away from Delgen and takes off with his dead body.

The party is left badly injured in Galmau’s keep with Galmau and another figure on the floor.

Returning to Rivton

With Kerns’ dead body gone with the drake, and dead bodies strewn about the floor the group takes action. A man that fits the description of Galmau lay dead on the floor next to Xavier whom is since long dead and beginning to rot. Aelis helps Vhok with all the healing he has left, but it is still not enough to bring him to. While this is happening another man that had been on the ground begins to come around. With caution the group helps him and finds out that he is Algeron of the church of Solaris, and was there to see Galmau on church business when Kern and the Draconian warriors jumped him. With Algerons healing Vhok is brought back to consciousness, while the rest of the party search Galmaus place for clues to the whereabouts of The Wayfayer Temple. Algeron tells the group that he also has heard of the Wayfayer Temple in his studies at the church but doesn’t know its location. With items taken off of Galmau, Delgen finds a chest full of silver and scrolls, which he unlocks with a key from Galmau, and sucsesfully avoids the trap on the chest. Searching the bookshelves Gareth and Aipholus find half of a map of Falkenia, which has the location of the Wayfayer Temple, but without the other half the map does not help for the time being. The only other thing found in the books was a scrap of paper that my have been a bookmark, which had the name of “The Ballads Night”, Faelyn informs them that is it a theater in Rivton. Another secret treasure stash was found behind a wall that opened with the ring that Galmau had which upon pressing the sides of the ring popped out a small key in the face of the ring.

With Galmau’s outpost home searched and no other clues to help the party find the temple they are off back to Rivton with their only clue of “The Ballads Night”. Before they leave though they bury Xavier and Galmau behind the outpost in an old Erydian graveyard, and the priests give them their final rites while Faelyn sings a requiem.

On the long journey back towards Rivton everything is going well until one day along the road a large earth elemental appears in front of the caravan and combat ensues. With the groups quick thinking and cohesiveness they effectively destroy the elemental without too much harm coming to them. Although in battling the elemental the groups’ magics seemed far more effective than attacking it directly. Also after some searching of the area the conjurer of the elemental was not found so the trip to Rivton continues.

Upon reaching Rivton the party stops at some of the local shops and gets all of their items identified and distributes them between themselves. Afterwards Algeron informs the group that he must visit the local church and report his findings of Galmau dead. The group accompanies Algeron to the only small church left with the destruction of the cathedral. A makeshift hospital has been set up in the church and Gareth and Algeron decided to stay to help the sick. Faelyn heads out to see Oliver Cartwright again, Delgen head to the Keep to spar with the guard and increase his reputation, while Aelis, Aipholus and Vhok head back to Talionis’ manor.

Reaching Talionis’ place the front gate is open once again and the old guard is not there along with the front doors’ handle and lock have been busted. The three enter cautiously as they hear some voice coming from inside. Inside they find Boris laying on the floor almost dead and the old guard dead. Aelis quickly heals Boris as best as he can and they help him up. Boris explains to them that a bald man with tattoos who spoke broken Erydian along with more dragonkin broke in and asked about the party along with Arliss, and then took Talionis and Vincenza. Without knowing which way his attacker went Boris and the others head out as fast as they can to get the others of the party. Joining up with the others the party is now left in the streets of Rivton with no clue as to which way Talionis and Vincenza have been taken. They must now decide what to do and where to go…

The Ballad's Night

The two parties meet up in front of The Ballads Night, and the only information gathered was a small red dragon scale from Talionis’ manor, and that the attackers had left Rivton to the south. With obvious festivities taking place inside behind the group and no other leads to go from they cautiously enter the theater house.

Once inside the theater the group is taken aback to what they see on stage. A man is performing whose looks are strikingly just like Galmau of Burdshire. The party watches the performance then with fear they see what looks like soldiers rush the stage and take him away. Not knowing that it was all part of the act the group becomes anxious and wonders what action they should immediately take. Then as all the actors including the soldiers come back out on stage the crowd begins cheering and the play is over. With relief the group watches as the actors go towards the exits to collect tips and keeping an eye on the Galmau look a like, they head over to him.

The group approaches the Galmau look a like and offer him coin and compliments. Then while conversing with him they find out that he is actually Galmau’s brother, and that their father had passed 14 years ago. It seems that the Galmau family was all performers and that Galmau had stopped at the theater a year ago and performed while on his way back to Ketral. The group informs Garret of his brothers’ death and moves their conversation to an empty table.

Through conversation the group explains to Garret that the same people who have taken Lord Talionis and his daughter Vincenza murdered his brother, and that they were also looking for The Wayfayer Temple. Not knowing anything about the Wayfayer Temple they ask Garret about maybe a map. With that it sparks his memory and Garret tells the group that Galmau had left him something and that a man had visited Galmau asking a lot of questions and actually mentioned a fight. Showing Garret the map fragment that the party has Garret says that it does look familiar and with that he pulls out a small box. As Garret is explaining that the box is locked it opens by itself, and inside is a scroll not a map piece.

The scroll is a message from Cadilan stating that he wants the piece of map that the party has in exchange for Aldren and Vincenza. It also talks of how the traitor failing meaning Kern, and that he calls the party The Cursed just as Lithin did. The group has until the end of Karnopi to bring the map to the cave system outside of Rivton, which in legend the dragon Sepsecolskegth had inhabited long ago, or else the prisoners will die. The group determines that someone came before them while they were away from Rivton and wiped the memory of Garret and took the other half of the map piece, and presumably it was Cadilan.

With time running short the party now knows what has happened to Aldren and Vincenza, but need a plan as to how to rescue them. The group decides to test Aipholus’ scrying skills and heads back to Talionis’ manor and begins the scying ritual to scry on Aldren. While scrying the group sees that Aldren and Vincenza have been stripped down to barely anything and seem slightly injured. They are inside of a makeshift cell. Cadilan is seen interrogating Aldren and after exchanges about Gods, and another draconic warrior talking to Cadilan probably about other things they are fighting in the caves Cadilan curses Aldren and touches his head. As he does a black symbol the same as Cadilan has on his head begins to form on Aldrens’ head and he holds it in pain. Then the image vanishes from the scrying pool.

The party rests and in the morning they head to different places to gather things before they set out. Gareth and Algeron go back to Garret and remove his curse of memory loss although it was not instantaneous. After leaving Rivton towards the caves to the south the party rests for the night in the wild and as they are they are attacked by a stone giant. The giant throws around the party quite easily as he knocks Delgen out with his massive club. Faelyn uses her wand of shatter on the giants club slowing it down as Vhok dispatches the giant while Algeron heals others. The group heals their wounds and tries to resume resting around the fire for the evening discussing with others the fate of them all and how its tied with Nirandir.

Into The Sepsecolskegth Cave System

The party finishes resting by the body of the fallen stone giant, and then they make their way to the entrance to the cave system after another day’s journey. Upon entering the mouth of the cave they see a kobold that is torn apart and hanging on the wall with a message written in draconic, which is translated by Faelyn, saying “Beware….Death walks these caves..”

The group continues on through the cave tunnels and eventually arrives at a larger room that is filled with sand and gravel with a steep grade going down into the sand. Around the outside walls of this room are pikes which have been attached to help someone around the sand. Vhok tests his luck and begins to move along the wall with the help of the pikes, but slips and slides down into the sand. Once down in the sand, it comes alive and ankegs appear and attack Vhok and the party. Battle ensues and eventually all the sand is cleared of ankegs and the party continues wearily through the tunnel system.

Eventually the group comes across cramped hallway. As you walk down the hallway you discover what appears to be a split-level within the cave. Your path continues on but you now stand facing an stone carved doorway which is outlined in the shape of a knight holding a bastard sword. It appears that within this ancient cave system a knight was buried within the room adjacent to you. Two red gems sit in the statue's face as eye's and have various nicks in the stone around them to indicate that many have tried to pry them free. An inscription upon the wall reads; "Sire of many yet father to none, though he's pledged his service to a god of the sun."

The group examines the tomb of the knight of Solaris and eventually decides to leave everything alone where it is including the magical bastard sword and continue on in the cave tunnels.

Out of the hallway you enter a somewhat curved room with several holes in the walls at varying heights. It appears you've entered an ante-chamber within the cave system. Lying dead in the middle of the large room is a Redguard who has been almost fully torn apart. The room is roughly 68 feet tall at its highest point.

A creature the size of a Halfling comes howling at you as it and its fellows charge from the open holes in the walls. Each has two short swords made of bone. It has a fang-filled mouth in a head like that of a white dragon and thick ivory scales cover its body.

The party fights and kills the little white dragon spawn while Faelyn tries to convince them that the party also fights the same enemies in Nirandir. After getting blasted by the little dragon spawns cold breath weapons the party eventually kills all the spawn. The group examines the dead Redgaurd and sees that she was ripped to shreads by the spawn, and what Cadilan and his men have been fighting. Pressing on through the tunnels you now come across a closed door at the end of the hall, several of the recognize the symbol on the door as the symbol of the Cult of Peligrun perhaps left over after Peligrun's prior's enchanted the great dragon to kill Beredwel Gorgon. No runes litter the door other than the one which describes the evil deity.

The group hesitates for a moment and decides to proceed into the room.

Now within the room you see an altar to the cultic deity himself with a smaller altar to Mikal. As you enter you feel a sudden surge of magic and then its immediate absence. The room was perhaps used for sacrifices and prayer but that time has long passed. The party leaves the altars alone and Algeron says a prayer and lights a candle and the group leave the unholy room, which magic is dead in.

To leave this room there is a hallway filled with glowing runes and a door at the other end of it. With examining the runes they destroy magics and warn of not to steal anything. Not knowing what else to do and being hasty Aipholus charges through the runes and while making it to the other side, most of his magical equipment has been stripped of its abilities. The rest of the party decides to leave their magical gear behind in the unholy room and proceed with Aipholus except for Delgen. Delgen not wanting to leave all his gear and proceed eventually gets left in the unholy room by himself as the others tried to convince him to join them.

The party minus Delgen proceed further into the cave system and decide to rest for awhile to regain their abilities for the up coming fights whatever they may be..

The Immortal

While the party sits around and rests in the dark cave tunnel and discusses Delgen and why he didn’t follow them and leave his magic equipment behind Faelyn hums a familiar tune. Aipholus, and Aelis know the tune from their childhood but can’t remember it exactly. The tune is titled: Beneath a Fiery Heaven Forgotten to all a past time has kept in dark this day. .I fear my love is forgotten now I feel that it is now too late. .A memory will serve you most when you've found your roots. Back home with a child's thought your mind will show you true. Never forgotten, never spoiled. This life has served me well. A lyric written for the most of men, But only women know it well. War has faded but live has waned. So why must I carry a burden? It is not my penance I keep. It is my heart that's broken. Truth is vague and life is truth So what guidance can you give? His fiery eye will consume us all If we're not permitted to live. So how to fight, the devil you know? When all you know is lost? Its easy to forget your crimes. When you've paid the cost.

You follow the hallways for another hour and see several goblins and other creature's which walk within these dank and damp caverns. Suddenly you hear chanting and music as you come nearer the next bend you see a spectacle within. Roughly twelve or more goblin's sit arranged within a semi-circular room which is lined with huts on either side; in the center of the room is a great gong and the chieflyiest amongst the goblin's is banging on said gong with a large wooden club, "Ugrak! Ugrak!", is chanted by the goblins who have a large bail sitting next to the chief goblin on stage. "Ugrak! Ugrak!"

Wondering what to do about the large mass of goblins the party hides outside of the large room when just then The goblin's chant again, "Ugrak! Ugrak!" before finally the chief leans down and knocks on the trap door on the stage several times. The room goes quiet suddenly and the ground shakes beneath you. "Ugrak!" the goblin's yell once more and then the trap door opens to reveal an oddly shaped creature. The beasts leaps from the hole below and lands on its four legs; quickly making short work of the goblin chieftain and several goblins in the immediate area. This unusual brute has a squat, centaurlike form, with deep azure skin. Its elongated head has two mouths stacked upon each other and four menacing eyes. The rest of the goblin's flee into holes and homes and the beasts begins to scan the area.

Figuring they can’t escape this creature Aipholus steps up into the room entrance and launches a fireball at the beast. Vhok steps up and blocks the creature from attacking the others while Aipholus continues to burn the beast and Vhok slashes at it. The beast lets out a terrible roar and deafens most of the party except the elves. After a long battle the beast is finally slain.

Continuing on the party opens the door which lay at the end of the hall of the previous room you now enter a room filled with the dead corpses of Dragonkin and Redguards. Blood is smeared upon the hallways and the door at the end of the hallway has been busted open. You hear talking in the room beyond about the fate of the prisoners, and the party moves up to see.

A gigantic hall with several jutting rocks which provide cover sit within this large cavern. At its other end is an opening into the air and you now feel the draft of the outside wind pushing through the cavern. Near the opening sits a cage erected into the cliff face and Talionis and Vincenza sit within. Aldren's face is somewhat obscured by shadow but he appears to be unconscious.

Cadilan welcomes his guest and asks them for the other piece of the map as Vhok walks brazenly into the room, which is filled with draconians and Cadilan. Wanting only the safety of Vincena and Aldren Vhok and the others ignore Cadilans demands for the other piece of the map, and upon a final threaten of the prisoners and a demand for the map Vhok charges across the room and attacks the draconian that is by the makeshift cell. The battle begins and swords and spells fly. Vhok battles many draconians at once by the cell as Aipholus begins his barrage of spells against Cadilan. Aelis summons a large dire wolf to the battle while Faelyn casts spells that manipulate the battlefield. Algeron summons a spiritual weapon to assist Vhok while moving around to heal his companions.

After a long hard battle Cadilan is finally knocked down and the draconians are either dead or have escaped out the hole outside of the cave. The second half of the map to Wayfayer Temple was found on his dead body. While rescuing Vincenza and Aldren from their cell a strange looking being appears before the party clapping. His flowing blue robes meld into his mask and cloak and he appears as if he is merely a drifting color. The sense of power illuminates from the man as he eyes the group through his mask.

The immortal being tells the party that he has come to assist them. He tells them of their true names and identities and that they have killed Nirandir once before. He explains to them their past and them being reborn and dieing many times along with the brief history of Nirandir and his past.

The immortal being also tells the party if they wish to know and learn more they must leave this plane and travel to another in two months time. During the time in between the party is to help out in Rivton and train and prepare for their journey. If they are not strong enough they surely won’t survive their journey. One last piece of advice given by the immortal about traveling to the other plane was "Once there; follow your heart and the clues you've left yourselves. Also Aldren has a curse that was put on him that is to powerful to be removed now and the immortal explains his condition to the party.

The immortal being also looks into the eyes of Aipholus, Aelis, and Faelyn and gives them each a vision along with special abilities. Before leaving the immortal also tells Vhok that his mentor Lammusi calls for him. The being disappears and the group leaves the cave system and eventually finds Delgen with the equipment and the animals sitting around a campfire. The party reaches him and has many questions about what has just happened and what they are going to do next.

A Stranger with news of Murder

As the party gathers their things and travels back to Rivton just outside the gates they see a backup of people entering the city. They discuss amongst themselves what to do with the body of Lord Talionis that is in the cart and will seem to be dead to the casual on looker. The party decides to just carry on towards the gate and when the guards stop them they will use Talionis’ symbol and Vhok and Vincenza will explain the situation.

At the gate the party is stopped by three guards and they begin questioning the party. One of the guards notices Talionis’ cursed body in the back of the cart, which to the untrained looks like he’s dead and the questions become more serious. With a lot of bickering between the party and the guards and questions arising about even letting the party into the city a strange individual approaches the three guards wearing robes with a large tome attached to his belt, and carrying a walking stick.

The individual who approached the guards is called Cassfall, and seems to have some sway with the guards. Upon ordering the guards to stand down and let the party in the city Cassfall stops the party once inside and asks to speak in private. Agreeing to speak at Talionis’ manor the party makes it way back there and Boris and Vincenza remain out of the way for the moment while the party speaks.

Cassfall explains to the party that he works for the Duke on a secret assignment to investigate the murder of the local thieves’ guild of Rivton by possibly a rival thieves’ guild. With the party very suspicious of many new people and from the recent kidnapping and torture of the Talionis’ they party interrogates Cassfall with many questions. Some have doubts about all the things Cassfall tells the party, but for the most part everyone believes what he says. Cassfall says he is going to investigate the thieves guild hideout where the mass murder took place and he is leaving in a few days. Cassfall leaves the party and waits for them, and he also tells the party he can pay 300gp for their services.

After Cassfall leaves the Talionis manor the group splits and goes in separate directions to take care of business that they each have about town. Aipholus and Vhok go to see the Duke and eventually find out that Cassfall does work for him. Faelyn goes to The Ballads Night, and to see Oliver Cartwright. Algeron goes to the church to get word from his leaders and to hear from Gareth. Algeron also goes to check and follow up on the memory recovery of Galmaus brother. He is slowly remembering things and what happened to him and how Cadilan and his men jumped him in the alleyway and erased his memory. Aelis stays with Boris and Vincenza and Aldren, while Delgen also stays and keeps watch with Boris and his new platoon of guards for the Talionis manor.

Meeting up with Cassfall after completing business in Rivton the party sets out to just outside of town in the forest to the hideout of the former thieves’ guild of Rivton. Upon reaching the forest and Cassfall leading the party to the hideout the group sees a large human made tree fort that rises high above the forest hundreds of feet up with only a ladder to climb up.

Climbing the long and dangerous ladder the party finally makes it up to the first platform of many on the tree fort hideout. Smelling the garbage and refuse along with inspecting the remains of a struggle some of the party deduce that the mess was intentionally made and with roaming around a little further the party is ambushed by a large pack of dire rats that come out of the walls.

Faelyn is quickly surrounded and attacked by the rat pack and luckily escapes with only a couple of scratches thanks to her disease free amulet of health she recently acquired. Cassfall summons a wall of smoke on the rats while Aipholus quickly dispatches the rat pack with a fireball, but not without Vhok getting burned by the explosion.

Things so far don’t seem as they should and the group may start wondering what is really going on here at the supposed hideout of the thieves’ guild of Rivton. More inquiry and searching needs to be done on this many leveled tree fort to find out what really happened.

The Soothing Sound of Death

With finishing off the rat pack with a fireball that singed Vhok the party continues to examine the first floor of the tree fort. With a few more rats to take care of the party examines the remains and some say that the place was intentionally made to look like a rats nest. While examining what could have been a kitchen Delgen slips and falls on oil which knocks one of the lamps over and temporarily starts the room on fire. Quickly putting out the fire the party decides to continue on upwards.

While on the ladder going up the party is ambushed by harpies who fly by and knock Algeron off the ladder. With quick thinking those who are knocked off the ladder find safety. Vhok teleports to safety on the roof of the first level avoiding injury, while Aelis falls down and shifts into a bird a glides to safety. Algeron who looks to be in grave danger floats downward softly due to his feather fall ring. Deciding to deal with the harpies and letting the group climb to safety Aelis summons a pack of Hipogriffs and they circle the ladder while the group makes it to the second level of the tree fort hideout of the former Rivton thieves guild.

With making it to the second level the party sees dead bodies in the room with them, along with hearing cackling and noises in the room next to them. Cassfall casts reveal thoughts and listens to who ever is on the level with the party. While discussing and preparing to enter the next room the door is opened and into the room rush harpies and battle ensues. Battle is going fine as Delgen and others are cutting the lightly armed and armored harpies to pieces until the door behind the party opens and more harpies appear. These harpies begin singing their captivating song and the party is captivated except Aelis, Algeron, and Aipholus. While trying to fight the harpies and making it around and through their captivated party members Aelis, Algeron, and Aipholus do all they can to kill the harpies. While fighting, something tries to grab Algeron through the opening to the room with the ladder but misses. A few moments later Faelyn disappears from Algerons side. Noticing her gone Algeron looks out down the the opening through the floor which the ladder runs through and to his horror he sees Faelyn hanging on for dear life to the very edge of the first floors roof.

Not only was Faelyn hanging for life on the roofs edge but a larger harpie was swooping down to attack her and knock her to her death. Without thought of self Algeron jumps down out the opening towards Faelyn and uses his ring to safely glide down to her, and as he does and is passing her on his way down he casts sanctuary on her to protect her from the attacking harpie. Now with Faelyn gone from the harpies sight Algeron becomes her target of attack as he slowly falls towards the ground.

Seeing Algeron and Faelyn gone Aipholus goes and looks out the floor opening and sees the harpie attacking Faelyn and Algeron now. With no hesitation he lets the fireball fly and hits the harpie mid-flight. With Aelis fighting the remaining harpies indoors, with the rest of his companions under the dreadful sound of the harpies song, Aipholus continues to try and attack the harpie outside.

As Faelyn hangs on to the ledge for life she eventually cant hold herself up anymore and looses her grip and falls from the edge. Zooming towards the ground now Faelyn passes Algeron who is floating down still to the ground and he attempts to grab her with one last chance but she slips from his grasp and she hits the ground hard. With Faelyn moments from death Algeron makes his way finally down to her to guard her and try and save her from death from the harpie. Aipholus continues to battle the harpie and eventually drives it off with fireballs. The rest of the group eventually make it down to the ground to see the horror of what Faelyns broken body looks like on the ground. With the powers of healing from Algeron and Aipholus she is stable but not without major injuries. The group now sits at the base of the tree fort weighing their options and on guard for more harpie attack.

The End of the Harpy Problem?

With the party moved farther out onto the plain away from the base of the tree and the harpies camp is made. Not long though afterwards the group is attacked by a few more harpies, which they dispatch a little easier than before being out in the open and more combat room. Watch is set up for the night and the party tries to get some much needed rest as best as they can.

The next morning the part awakens to Aipholus talking and trading goods with a merchant that looks like all he cares about was his next drink. Many various goods were acquired like a large mirror, parchment, soap, and a magical suit of armor, which at first looked like nothing until Aipholus magically cleaned it off.

With the party rested and with some new found goods they prepare for the day and the return to the tree fort and the harpies. Along the way back Aelis confronts Cassfall about who he was talking to in the middle of the night during his watch. A man in leather and heavy brown cloak rode in on horseback and dismounted far away from the parties’ camp. He and Cassfall talked about a merchant in the south and taking the party there along with the man handing Cassfall a pouch. With this more question directed towards Cassfall were asked by the party about what he knows and what exactly he is doing. The party decides that Cassfalls business is his own and that if it doesn’t endanger any of the party then its ok, and that Cassfall should disclose more information to the group.

Making it to the tree fort again the party carefully makes their way up to the third floor with Faelyns injury Aelis casts spiderclimb on her so that she can make her way up with the rest without hindering anyone. Upon entering the third floor of the tree fort the party encounters more harpies along with the leader. Faelyn protects the party from the harpies evil song with a song of her own. She couldn’t stand and fight the harpies but with her song she helped the rest of the party fight for her. Delgen now not afflicted by the evil harpy song rushes them and begins to kill harpies with dwarven ease, cutting them down with every stroke of the axe. Fireballs and magic also fly and the leader of the harpies retreats into another room.

Cassfall and Delgen rush after her and Cassfall opening the door springs a trap that sends tiny darts raining down upon them from the ceiling. With Cassfall almost dead from the trap Delgen and the others rush in to finish off the harpy leader, while Algeron heals and helps Cassfall with his injuries.

With the harpies dead and the former thieves hideout searched the party finds a considerable amount of loot, which would probably have come from the thieves. No more clues are found about the fate of the thieves, or what happened to the harpy dead from the first encounter with the party. Guessing that the harpies moved in and decided to take over the tree fort and kill the thieves the party packs up and leaves.

Heading back to Rivton there are still many questions unanswered about what the party has done and what they are going to do in the days to come.

Trouble in Sovlin

As the party makes its’ way back into Rivton and Cassfall motions to the guards to let the party and their caravan though the gates they stop outside a shop keeps store. As the group is getting belongings around for sale a man approaches and asks for Aipholus. The man happens to be a herald of the emperors’ son of Erydia. He hands Aipholus a note and then leaves. Aipholus explains to the party that he and his troupe have been summoned back to Erydia. With many questions Aipholus explains that he will reveal more after he has read the letter in private at Talionis’ manor after the party sells their goods they found from the thieves hideout.

With the bartering done between Aipholus and the storekeep along with Delgen who tried to intimidate the shopkeep the party has their gold that they are going to get for their items, except some that wouldn’t fetch enough gold. Cassfall offers to take the unsold items and sell them for the group. With this Cassfall leaves to some other part of Rivton while the rest of the party heads to Talionis’ to regroup.

While Cassfall is out selling goods and the rest of the party make their way back to Talionis’ manor Algeron heads over to the church. While there he meets Oshera Gaius who is the local priest now in charge since the Bishop died in Rivton. Algeron learns of the threat of the dragon has reached far and Crownrut is preparing for war and some its villages are already burned. Algeron also speaks to Gaius about planar travel and receives a couple books on the subject that the church deems heretical. Also he receives a small orb that displays the planes as they are currently known. Algeron offers gifts of money and treasures for the church and also receives a few potions for his travels. One last bit of information Algeron learned was that the fastest way to Erydia Major was by Freitian merchants ships that could get there in about a months time.

Back at Talionis’ manor the group converges and is whole again. The group discusses Talionis and what should be done with him. They decide to leave him where he is and that if priests want to see him they still can and that moving him would be dangerous due to the fact that some in Rivton dislike the Talioinis’. Boris informs Vhok that a Falkenian came around looking for him wearing chainmail and having brown hair and looking suspicious. Boris told Vhok that he think he was a herald or a bodyguard. Aelis makes sure Vincenza is still alright with what has been going on and explains to her he is going to get a creature of the wood to protect her personally.

The party heads downstairs and Aipholus reveals to them all what the letter says from the herald of Erydia. With only two months time until Aipholus’ presence is demanded in Erydia and one month until the party is supposed to plane walk as the immortal said they discuss all the options and directions the party needs to go. With Aipholus stepping up to lead the group it is decided that they head out to help Cassfall once more with retrieving information from a merchant that was last seen in Sovlin and that is sensitive to the Duke of Rivton.

With the party now arriving at Sovlin at night things seem strange as they reach the palisade and see no traffic leaving along their journey there. With the parties arrival the defenses are rung and the town is on alert. The guards question the group and wonder if they are the “others”. Not knowing what is going on the party explains who they are and with the blessings of Algeron on the people they open the gates and the party hurries in and the gates are shut. The party quickly learns that the town has been under some kind of attack at nights and people are just taken away. The town has been plagued by crazy cycles of weather and that a hermit druid is angry at the village for using so many resources being so close to Rivton. Also Maevin, the only guard left again, tells the party that another group came through not to long ago and he paid them decent money to take a letter to the Baron south at Barleau Keep. Maevin also explains that Garath Cordle might know how long this hermit druid has lived in the area and that he was their local alchemist. The town is running out of people and also only has three days left of food.

The party tries to quickly formulate a plan to see who or what is taking the towns people at night. They discuss to send one out to set a trap to lure out the subjects or to all go out as one. Cassfall casts a spell on Delgen who rushes out into the night through the gate and the party follows quickly behind. Moving fast through the forest Delgen is ambushed by plant creatures, which one grabs him and swallows him whole. The party fights off the two plant creatures and retrieves an acid digested Delgen. Having now rushed out into the night the party has some idea of what is going on, but without gathering more information they are blindly walking through the forest.

Vhok's Story

It hurt Vhok to know that someone else had called Lammusi dead and to make matters worse the man had claimed to know him. Lammusi may have taught him, but Vhok knew very little of his aged mentor and to believe that news of his death was recent, so soon after Vhok had been told to help him was devastating. Vhok remembered the old mans words; “Come here tonight. Bring ale” and so at the end of the festivities at the tavern Vhok would purchase a cask of ale from the half-orc and head towards the Alchemist’s home. The light upstairs was on, flickering, it was obviously candlelight and Garath was obviously upstairs but it isn’t the place of a man to welcome himself in. “Knock, Knock!” the sound of Vhok’s fist rapping on the door which remained slightly ajar. “Knock, Knock!” once more as Vhok looked at the flickering candlelight upstairs. Creaking the door open he would see the darkened room, lit only by moonlight and the ambient light of the torches of the streets. Vhok would step into the home, welcoming himself, and banging the large cask on the doorframe beside him. A stairwell sat at the opposite end of the room and Vhok knew his friend the Alchemist would be waiting for him upstairs. Stepping over firearms, gunpowder, herbs, bowls, and mortars, Vhok would make his way to the stairwell. “Garath?!” shouted the Phalmurian as the creaking was heard overhead. Vhok shook his head and would ascend up the stairwell. “Garath?!” Vhok repeated as he reached the door at the top of the stairs, light escaping from beneath the door and flickering. Vhok would knock once more and receive no response before opening the door. The wall, lined with suits of armor in differing garb, is accompanied by several portraits of a young man and his friends, all in regal garb and standing at attention. “Gara—“ Vhok would begin but was interrupted. “I’m here boy. I’m over here.” Spoke the old man, Vhok’s head turned the corner to see him standing near a chair which flanked a table. “Get over here and set the ale down. I’m thirsty myself.” Nodding, Vhok would bring the cask to the old man’s table and set it down. “I was the Emperor's personal bodyguard for a time. You know much about history boy?” Garath spoke, coughing as he said this. “Some...but not nearly enough as I should.” Vhok said, sitting at the table across from Garath who began to plug the cask and pour a drink for Vhok. “Take note then; this is good information to know. Regis Amund, son of Vasillis Amund. One of the best Emperors’s to date. He was Emperor during that Peligrun business. He lost the southern lands, aye, but kept a cool head and kept the Empire alive. His oldest son died and his daughter took the throne in 1474. She wasn't an Erydian by” Garath coughed, age had not treated him well. “By any means..” his words trailed as he handed Vhok his drink and poured his own. The two men would watch a swig for a swig. “Well, she was deposed and her brother...the youngest of Regis line, accepted the throne. He's the one who tried to reunite the Empire and stop Falkenia and Dunslan from ripping it apart with rebellion. His only son, Theophillis, had favored his aunt more and so when Fenton Amund, the youngest son of Regis and Emperor, was executed by the Golden Order. They placed Theophillis on his father. On his father's throne.” The old man poured another drink for them both, swigging it down together. “Some resented this, sure..but Theophillis tried to reunite the Empire. He's the one who convinced the House of Lords to fund the rebuilding of the southern kingdoms. My father was Theophillis' advisor. And when I was old enough, I became Theophillis bodyguard. And stayed that for many years. Until Lammusi.” He chuckled, looking to Vhok and would slowly rise, pointing to a portrait on the wall of two young men standing in regal garb. “He was a hell of a fighter. Son of a Jelurian. He's maybe 20 in that portrait. He served the crown with pride and duty and served his duty until the Emperor's death in 1570.” Spoke the man, with Vhok commenting as he ended. “He looks so different from when I knew him in that portrait.” “Know how long ago that was? 39 years” replied Garath. “Theophilis' son, Theoalexer, is the current Emperor. And by historical rights ascended there with natural right. No, no...he didn't.”

“He didn't?” “Tell me boy; what do you know of the Dragonfire Sages?” spoke Garath. “Once again, not enough. Hardly anything in fact.” the boy said, unsure of what was to come.

“Well, one of their leaders, Coren. He was Lammusi's father's enemy. And so he knew the only way to get Lammusi's father, even after death, was to harm his child. So he did.”

“How did he harm Lammusi?”

“Theophilis was a good lad, and while I didn't agree with all of his decisions I've learned a lot in my 86 years. I learned that men who do good, truly good, are hated by men of evil. Coren organized a coup. He gathered several men loyal to outside sources and paid them to stage an attack on the Emperor. This was a trap even for the men paid. For you see the Jelurian, Coren, had cast a spell upon bread fed to Lammusi by his wife. And the bread made Lammusi see the Emperor as an intruder in the palace. Lammusi and the guards attacked the Emperor and it was Lammusi who killed him.” “1570 D.H. Death of Emperor Theophillis Amund. By the hands of his own men. Well the palace guards couldn't have this leak. No one could know. They couldn't jail Lammusi there; someone would find him or know who he was. So where to jail him? Where to put him? An Emperor's Royal Bodyguard, boy. Killed his charge. A guard killed his charge.” “Why not execute Lammusi?” Vhok replied. “ Hm. Lammusi was my apprentice, my progeny. I was in charge. I couldn't order his death even though he had betrayed me. I had friends in Falkenia. So I sent him there, to Prison, forever. Falkenians hate Erydians. There he wouldn’t be able to convince anyone of anything. That was 39 years ago.

Vhok looked down at his cup. “He's 58 now. Actually...60. He was 58 when I met him.” “The old get older, lad. He'd hate me for what I did. I hate myself. I learned later that it was all a plot by this Coren fellow. But I couldn't do anything. I sent for him but he had been moved to another prison.” He shook his head. “The lord of those lands didn't even know he was a prisoner. I wanted him to disappear and he did. He rotted in some Falkenian cell.” “Coren remains free?” Vhok replied.

“ Coren is free, yes Likely still in Jeluria, fighting the Thirlindin.” Spoke the old man. “He helped me escape you know. Lammusi.” Vhok looked down. “He...he lived?” Garath perks up, looking Vhok over. Vhok looked away. “I don't know. He said he was old. He was too slow...told me to go on. Said he would take on the guards, but he asked me to promise him to come back for him. He taught me everything I know. For two years I studied under him. And still, I feel it wasn't enough.” “Know what that mark is? “No...he didn't make a point of giving it to me. It was just a cut..during our exercises.” “Just a cut.. ha..When men are chosen to become guardians of the Emperor they are cut on the temple. Then, a piece of the Emperor's very flesh is placed under the skin. Then the wound is sewed shut. Serves a few purposes. If the Emperor is lost or kidnapped any of his bodyguards can be used to scry on him as they carry a piece of him. And they can use their will to absorb a physical blow dealt to his majesty. And most importantly, it reminds us of who we serve. I still have mine.” Garath pointed to the scar. “And it looks like Lammusi gave you his.” Vhok looks at his empty cup for a moment and then Garath, realizing he feels woozy and it is not the alcohol. Garath slowly stands, looking at you as you tip in your chair. Words are uttered, meaningless. “I...b..i..do..” Vhok awakened with the sun in your eyes. It is morning likely though and unknown time later. Vhok struggled against the manacles. Garath stood, his back to Vhok, and quickly he would turn as the sound of a blade being sharpened is heard. The old man is in tears. “I can't live with what I did to Lammusi. You can't of seen him! He died! What demon are you to come here and convince me of this! Corin sent you! Arliss Corin!” “I ordered him to rot in a cell for a mistake!” Garath would hurry over over, grabbing Vhok by the hair and holding the knife to his face. Garath pulls Vhok's head back and slices his temple. Blood runs down his face and a small piece of flesh falls to the ground. Garath watches the ordeal and stumbles backwards as Vhok screamed in pain. “He's alive and I damned him! And you're his progeny. You're his apprentice! He sent you to kill me and finish what I started!” Garath threw the blade towards the wall.

“That's not true...he has accepted his fate. You could have done nothing different. You did what your position demanded of you to do, how could you have known? f I am his apprentice, then I am no less your apprentice. What you taught him, he taught me.” Garath reached in his pocket and grabbed the key to the manacles, tossing them past Vhok and across the room in addition to the knife. “If Lammusi lives; tell him of my sorrow...” He approached Vhok and picked up the piece of flesh, putting it inside of Vhok’s wound before walking towards the stairs stumbling and can be heard walking down them.

Attack of the Plants

With the party now back together and Delgen out of the plants’ gut he is healed and the group discusses what to do next. Options are discussed and burning the woods was the one discussed the most. It was agreed upon not to set fire to the woods and to just regroup and keep going searching for the druid.

Continuing to search the woods the party runs into a large group of needlefolk. They target Aelis and Aipholus for being elves. Aipholus fireballs a large group of them and they all die, while the rest of the party kill the remaining ones off.

Walking a little further through the wood more needlefolk just the party and try and attack the elves of the group Aelis and Aipholus again, but once again Aipholus lets a fireball fly and they all burn up and die in one shot.

While traveling through the forest the mithryl artifact weapon that Delgen has been carrying slips out of his belt and hits the ground and doesn’t break and reform like it normally does. Faelyn picks it up and hands it back to Delgen who swings it at the ground again to test it and once again it doesn’t break and when he does he feels gladness instead of sorrow. Discussion of the seven sabers ensues with Algeron and Faelyn and while Algeron is holding the axe he notices script in elvish and hands the axe to Aelis to read. Aelis having read the original inscription takes the axe to read it again when he notices new writing on it that wasn’t there the first time and reads the new script aloud.

“Delgen's hand and Delgen's arm, a warrior I once was but a shard I have become. Anallrath broke into pieces and I am but a puzzle- more powerful than ever but forgotten not to my owner. Broken and forever so, read these words and I will glow!"

When read the axe heats up in Aelis’ hand and being temporarily resistant to fire he holds it and then hands it back to Delgen. The group thinks this might be the legendary weapon called Anallrath that was broken and reformed in the mithryl in the dwarven caves of Winterkeep. Deciding to figure out the axe later the group continues on in the woods to try and find the hermit druid.

With the group entering a new part of the woods things seem odd to Aelis. This portion of the forest seems strangely peaceful. Not a sound disturbs the stillness not the call of a bird nor the crack of a twig. Gentle rays of sunlight filter through the treetops. Aelis senses danger in the surrounding wood just before a massive plant creature jumps out at the group.

The creature before you resembles a large parsnip with a vicious maw surrounded by green, ferny foliage at the top. Its giant maw opens to reveal a maw of thousands of tendrils and teeth and its huge body rises from the dirt and foliage to tower over you.

The massive plant lunges out at Delgen and grabs him with its maw and takes a large bite out of Delgen while holding him. Aelis and Aipholus back up and unleash every spell they have at the patchwork evil plant and with difficulty they eventually hit the plant with their spells while others miss. Faelyn sings a song of courage to the group while Algeron prepares Vhok to attack the plant. Cassfall carefully moves back and attacks the plant with his magics. The battle continues and Vhok attacks the plant with all his might. Delgen once again is swallowed by the plant, and is inside while the group tries to free him. Just before Aipholus blasts the plant for one last time Delgen emerges from the belly of the plant, but he looks like he is dead. Just then Aipholus lets one final spell go while Vhok slices the plant one last time and the evil patchwork plant writhes and falls into one of its holes and dies. Aipholus rushes to Delgen and casts Heal on him and brings him back.

As the party explores the massive plants lair and surroundings they find many dead people and corpses along with treasure and magical items. One finding of importance was the merchant that Cassfall was out looking for in Sovlin was among the dead. Faelyn notices that the merchant has a signet ring of the Duke and may have worked for him.

The party wonders where the druid is that is causing problems in Sovlin and still needing answers they head back into town for rest wondering if the plant ate the druid. Upon arriving back into Sovlin the party is greeted by a crowd and cheered as heros for saving them. The party finds out where the local alchemist is and heads over to his shop ready to ask questions.

After entering the shop to an explosion of dust and fire the party introduces themselves to Garath. The party finds out that Garath was working with the druid Hennin for herbs and plants for his alchemy because he has gotten too old to go out forraging the forest for them. They also learned that Hennin warned the town of things to come and of bad weather and even offered to help Garath out of town and towards Rivton, but Garath refused his offer. Hennin was mad at the town for abusing the woods.

Garath also knew Lammusi who was the trainer of Vhok. He tells Vhok that he died some 30 years ago in duty as the personal bodyguard to the emperor theophilis. Garath gives Vhok Lammusi’s blade. With many questions the old man tires and wishes the group to leave. Not satisfied Vhok grabs Garaths shoulder as he turns around and demands more answers about his trainer and how he knew him and Garath tells Vhok to return alone later that evening.

With the party tired and exhausted they make their way to the local inn The Home of the Half-Orc and get a table and sit down to discusses the days events and plan for the next day and how to find Hennin.

Meeting James =

With the party rested at the Inn of the Half-Orc they begin to gather downstairs when a loud scream from a woman is heard. They all rush outside to investigate and a crowd have started to gather. A woman is screaming and crying that Garath the alchemist has run off into the woods, and with this Vhok is seen leaving Garath’s house half dressed. He is on his way out the gate after Garath as the group motions to him to stop. With the group at Sovlin’s gate they prepare to go back out into the woods in search of Garath and to see if they can find Hennin the hermit druid.

Charging through the woods the group quickly catches up to Garath who is sinking in mud and grasping onto a tree branch. Yelling at the group to let him die and to go away Delgen who is protected with freedom of movement wades into the mud and begins to pull out Garath as more plants attack the group. Aelis has anti-plant shell on and tells the others to come close to him so that the plants won’t be able to harm them. With spells from Aipholus and attacks from Vhok and Delgen the plants were dispactched. While fighting Aelis spoke to the plants and they said that they just hunt now and have no master and that the root of all evil beheaded and ate Hennin. Also the forest helped by bringing the animated plants to the group so that they may kill them all and restore peace and balance to the woods.

After the plants were all destroyed the group lead by Aelis speaking to the woods brought them to the hut of the once druid Hennin. While there Delgen went to investigate the small hut and a massive log trap that had been set up came down on Delgen and rolled and hit the rest of the group. After everyone was taken care of and no more traps detected Aipholus detected magic and revealed a magic rod. Faelyn also found in the broken hut from the falling trees a clay pot. Garath looked at the contents of the pot and they were extremely rare and powerful healing herbs that could be used for the peoples of Sovlin. The magic rod was later identified to be a cursed rod of wonder that whomever held onto it became almost in love with it and wouldn’t let it go.

The party along with Garath makes their way back to Sovlin, and takes care of the rest of bussiness they have in town before they decide to make their way back to Rivton. Along the road back to Rivton the party encounters a large clockwork construct that looks like part horse by the name of James. The group finds out that James was sent to retrieve them from another plane and to bring them back as prisoners and to be put on trial. Delgen quick to action readies to attack James but the party deliberates and calms down Delgen and reasons with him that the only alternative is to go with James or risk being annihilated either by James or other models he said would come after him if he did not return. The group grabs onto James and they are transported to another plane…

Remembering the Forgotten Past

As the party disappears with James you appear in a large field with several towering boulders on the sides of you, four in particular. The sky is red as blood and the moon, or even the sun, sits blackened in the sky as if it were an eclipse. The landscape is vast and unending and is only occassionally interrupted by a range of mountains sitting at various heights. In the distance you see a blindingly bright light and as your eyes begin to affix on the light you notice it to be a gleaming white structure. A few of you move your hands to your eyes for a moment and realize the weight of your weapons is gone.

The party questions James about where they are and where they have been taken, and James explains to them that they are on Excis, which is a protoplane, and one of many that orbit Interict. James also explains to the group that the white structure in the distance is the Ivory Citadel, and as Algeron pulls out his orb devise that shows the planes to further understand where the group is James points out that there is a mural in the Ivory Citadel that shows almost all the planes and their protoplane counter-parts. Still wondering what a proto-plane is James explains to the group that it is a a single plane which relies on the existance of another plane to exist. It is, in essence, a pocket of matter and energy which have left the original plane to form its own existence, and a proto plane must be created by an individual as they are not natural occurances.

James hints at a threat that needs to be taken care of, and tells the group that they are to be sent to Ibram, which is a plane that is used as a prison. James gives the group blue bands to wear and if they die on Ibram they will be brought back to life for the trial. The bands also allow the quadrobunal the power to summon the party for the trial when it is time. James explains to the party the rights they have: 1. You possess the right to speak at your own trial and to face your accusers in open quadrobunal. 2. You may not, under any circumstances, harm a member of the Quadrobunal or the Ivory Citadel. 3. You have the right to learn and repent, and this is encouraged. 4. You also have the right to self-representation. With this information James also tells the group that time passes very quickly on Excis, but on Ibram time passes very slow. Also with regards to magic usage, magic is amplified on Ibram while on Excis it is wild and unstable. Just then as James is speaking with the group the groups’ accusers approach, and there are four of them all wearing black robes with a single white line down the front and back. There is a large beast called Animo who was Aelis’ champion, a faceless man carrying a golden book called Adoreus, a woman named Sophia, and a demon looking man called Aequitas who seems to be Aipholus’ champion. Adoreus charges the group with three charges. 1. Reckless loss of deific ability. 2. The creation of the Finiesto which now ravages the material plane. 3. Abandonment of your servants. The four with the exception of Animo seem to think that the party is lying and playing ignorant. This is probably because they have already caught Ayedin(Kern) and he told the four that he remembered. Aequitas who seems quick to judge and wants to send the party immediately to Ibram tries to convince his cohorts that the party is still lying by saying that “how could they forget if they still retain their auras?” To this Adoreus responds to Aequitas to be quiet and not to arouse the unwalkables. The four vote on sending the party to Ibram although Animo thinks it is too harsh but gets outvoted by the other three. The party is to stay on Ibram until the desensification process is complete, which is explained as if the party still does have powers and auras Ibram will slowly over time strip them away, and the only thing that will remain will be memories.

The group a little defiant still does not go right away with Animo and James to be taken to Ibram, and while they still try and ask questions and get answers they only seem to anger the remaining three. Delgen persists and the order is given to kill him and with pleading to Animo from Aelis he is spared just in time. Avoiding confrontation Aelis finally gets the others to join him with James and Animo, and as they are disappearing Animo hands Aelis something and whispers to him.

The party appears in a somewhat oddly colored room, a single window rests in the wall behind you and the moon outside is a purplish hue. The floor is lined with arcane runes in a circle that Delgen and Aipholus step out of almost immediately. The wall has carved letters upon it and reads the same in multiple languages. "AND IT WAS PAYNAL WHO RID US OF OUR WORTH AND PLACED US WITHIN HELL, A HELL HE HIMSELF COULD NOT WITHSTAND" The writing is in nearly a hundred languages, most of which none of you even know the alphabet of. In Aelis' hand is a large bag.

The bag contains the weapons of the group and as the reequip themselves the notice that they are not alone and there are demons and devils who share their room and combat ensues. The demons are easily killed by the party and along with them there was an old man, who was attacked but the group stopped when he started talk to them. The old one who explains that he is also known as Droosla knows who the party is somehow. Droosla explains that Aeydin also came through and to explain what he knows and for the groups answers they must follow him.

The party walks outside and they see several large towers which litter the face of this lush plane. Faelyn Tavendor: Algeron, we are in a prison plane. We will most likely find many of such beasts. The plantlife is enormous and the majority of the plane appears to be composed of this thick woodland.

The party stops and Droosla explains that he and Animo were servants once of Aelis, and that Animo was once a mortal who petitioned to be part of Aelis’ ranks. Before telling the group any more The Old One has a price and it is the cursed rod of wonder that Delgen is still carrying with him. The group decides to give Droosla the rod in exchange for more info. Once Droosla has the rod he throws it behind him into a river, and says that he is free and begins to explain how things are to the group from his perspective.

Part 1

The CreationThe universe began with the creation of Order. In Order's wish to create it created the first beings. These beings were known as the mandeisto and the sulani. The mandeisto were men, created by Order for the purpose of existence, and it was the aim of these men to achieve understanding. Preventing them from doing this were those who already understood; these were the sulani. The universe began with the creation of Order. In Order's wish to create it created the first beings. These beings were known as the mandeisto and the sulani. The mandeisto were men, created by Order for the purpose of existence, and it was the aim of these men to achieve understanding. Preventing them from doing this were those who already understood; these were the sulani. Wars raged and the mandeisto created various armies with which to combat the sulani. They named their troops the aurai and at every turn they were defeated. Facing certain destruction the mandeisto resolved to settle their differences amongst each other and work together. It was in that time that they created their first creature of sentience; the dragon. To lead their new armies the mandeisto had decided they would need a being as cunning as the sulani. Into one of the dragons each of them placed a piece of their talus bone and then granted it sentience. They named it finseisto for its power. This being, now with power on its own, began to do the mandeisto's bidding and fight the sulani. The sulani found themselves no match for finseisto and soon they were destroyed. With all of knowledge now at the disposal of the mandeisto they marched upon the stairs of enlightenment to a new future but at the top of the stairwell stood finseisto. Having entered the sacred hall finseisto had gained knowledge to accompany his sentience and he understood his true power. He refused to grant them knowledge and fearing his wrath the mandeisto retreated. You created the Findiesto and he stole the knowledge of the stairwell...knowledge only the Sulani had.. Knowledge all mandiesto wanted. Disagreements erupted between the mandeisto and soon they found themselves placing them for the turn of the events. They allied against one another and soon their anger contorted into hatred. Their wars began and when the dust settled many of them had died. The few that remained looked to their past and remembered finseisto and his betrayal. Abandoning their armies they marched again upon the stairs of enlightenment and arrived at the massive doors to the knowledge beyond. Finseisto did not meet them their and soon their confidence turned to worry. Several of the Gods pushed on the doorway but to no avail. Without the door opening the mandeisto would never defeat finseisto and so they resolved to create a hammer. A hammer forged of the earth it was given to Gusir to wield and bash the door with. Upon his first strike Gusir cracked the door and it opened to the knowledge beyond. And there was no sign of Finseisto…He had stolen all of the knowledge of the Sulani.. The knowledge that the Mandiesto wished for so badly. That you all wished for.. In time the world was destroyed and recreated by the mandeisto and nothing was heard of Finseisto. Achieving true power the mandeisto had moved from a point of ignorance to that of divinity, calling themselves Gods, and without Finseisto to interfere they found themselves invincible. While many stories exist from the period of creation we will only focus on one; Finseisto's return. The Old One: After many thousands of years of creation, the history of the elves and the vruuk and the creation of man it was Finseisto's return which would define the period. Returning from no-where the evil beast reigned fire upon man; the Gods loved creation, and killed all in his path. It was in fact the Gods who feared more than man, having already recreated existence once and seen the effects of chaos they were uncertain what would happen if they did so again. They also feared Finseisto's power, for he too was assumed to be a God. The Gods resolved as one to destroy Finseisto before he could destroy existence though as he had taken mortal form none of them could directly interfere. Unto this they enlisted the help of Ayedin. Ayedin, who had claimed the domain of chaos, was the only deity known to have broken the rules of divinity and remain a God. Without his assistance nothing could be done and even the things that could be done could only be simple. And so the Gods promised Ayedin the soul of any man who died without confidence. Ayedin agreed and spat blood upon the earth. Each droplet struck an individual, mostly men in the valley of grapes. As Finseisto's wrath grew it was met with growing violence and turbulence. The lilandi constructed bows to fight against his brood with and called him "Nirandir", a word originally meaning sacrifice, in an effort to name him. In the old world there were many pagan deities which existed. These deities walked the earth in the days of creation and were the first to ascend to power. It could even be argued that these deities later became the Gods of now, though this is unlikely. Several of these deities would create avatars, or physical representations of themselves, to walk the earth as. These would retain the memories of the Gods they were in fact and if fate dealt them a fatal blow the God would remain alive. The names of these deities were as follows; Ayeidin; the God of Slaughter and Betrayal. Edorin; the God of Carnage. Oaurion; the God of Metallics, Paynal; the God of hunting, war, fate and fire. Hestian; Goddess of the Stars and Night. Arliss; God of Science and Medicine, Chyrnovo; God of Darkness and things to Come. These seven deities were in fact the oldest of Gods who were worshipped by the elder humans and even the elves before time. These deities breathed and lived in the world as mortals did and walked among them in an effort to bring about a better universe. That is; until their deaths at the hands of existence. As their sudden disappearance occurred and new gods came into contact their followers who were granted powers began to lose their grip on the supernatural; indeed their avatars even lost their powers. My personal belief is that the other gods betrayed them and killed them for their plans to kill Finiesto.. But it is irrelevant... Their avatars didn't die and they didn't lose their memory. In fact; the absence of their divinity renewed the Gods view of themselves. They decided that more good could come from their aiding of humanity than their meddling from above. And so; gravitating to help others as their destiny had in store for them they would unite arms against Nirandir himself. Each of them knew however the dangers involved as they were each there when Nirandir became what he was. They were also aware their defeat of him would act as a heroic act worthy of praise and worship and so they resolved to wait. Each of them would use the small amount of divinity left to return with no memory of their former selves and of their deity-hood. And so they would die and reincarnate within the tribes of man and the Lilandian. By doing this they would ensure they would not be worshipped again and elevated to deism. And so they would accept the names they were given and let destiny guide them. Faelyn and Aipholus would be born as the son and daughter of Phillis Thain; the first man to unite the tribes of man and siblings to Alexer Amoniamundi. Under his tutelage they would come to know the life of humanity. When Nirandir finally threatened to destroy the tribes Phillis would make a deal. In exchange for the sacrifice of his first son and daughter Nirandir would no longer threaten the humans. Nirandir recognized both Faelyn and Aipholus and would agreed to the terms. Returning to his lair he would puzzle around the two humans, circling them in what would be a frustration. Why did these two not fight him now? Why did they not remember their former lives? How did they not remember their former lives? Nirandir puzzled over this and would ask them many times about their origins. The meek brother and sister merely understood what it meant to be sacrificed and did not question the "dragon god". And finally Nirandir lost interest. His curiosity had gotten the better of him and Nirandir assumed their memory loss was some sort of trick. Nirandir would then release them back unto Phillis Thain. Thain however was a devout follower of the old gods and while he had been approached by Solaris himself concerning worship he understood what it meant to respect prophecy. He had borne from his seed two deities and he would be damned to deny them knowledge of this. Phillis Thain would send word to the elves for Aelis and would gather the rest; reuniting the old gods. Once together Thain would tell them everything he knew. Bound by their memories the group resolved that Nirandir must be defeated. In fact, a common story of this mythos was told for generations; "Having been born in a world of fear each of these men led themselves towards the tallest peak of the tallest mountain. There on the summit of Mount Hrusti they found each other. Divining the truth of their various journeys their conceived that their purpose was to destroy Nirandir." Battles waged and ancient ruins were searched for an item which would help the heroes defeat Nirandir. While history, legend, and even this story have lost what may have been found the heroes did find a way to defeat Nirandir. In a year Nirandir had retreated to a cave, appearing only in legend. And the heroes of the Gods? They disappeared from history. They had killed him, though Nirandir would return in time though never cause the world threat again.

In the year 1428 D.H it was the intent of Beredwel Gorgon, Ulfgar Morgoth and Nognar Ironforge to defeat the might Nirandir in search for an item within his horde. This item, one of the only surviving books of prophecy written by Veritos, had been lost by a Knight and his company during a quest to defeat the dragon. This book of prophecy had inside of it prophecies concerning The Evercowled and his defeat. Imperative to stopping Peligrun the three dwarves and their company sought to engage Nirandir and after a battle of riddles the great dragon, which had been Nirandir's mate and not himself, was defeated. The three dwarves, heroes of their time, plundered various treasures and the prophecies before moving on to find the Forlorn Knife. The importance of this story is that by a stroke of coincidence Nirandir, after thousands of years of terrifying various groups, had offered himself up with a truce to the metallic dragons in an effort to end their prolonged wars. Returning to his home he found his mate and brood slaughtered; He believed the council of dragons had betrayed him! Nirandir hurried back to the council and true to their truce their allowed the great dragon into the temple. Once inside the large hall Nirandir sprung loose his fury and quickly began to destroy each and every being he encountered. Nirandir's hatred continued for hours before the battle began to turn and then Nirandir, for the first time in known history, fled. Chasing him across the endless sea the dragon council halted and turned around knowing that they could no longer fly without becoming tired and so they returned to the shore. Nirandir however, continued until his wings could no longer carry him and fell unconscious into the vast ocean.

You see, you killed Nirandir...Finiesto.. But he cannot be killed, even by the avatars of former Gods... And so he reformed and killed all of you. But you were wise, you had devised a spell to reincarnate yourselves... And Arliss would reunite all of your new selves and the quest would begin anew... But Finiesto was smart... When you killed him the first time you wiped his memory of his own deific ability.. Even he does not know what he is. But he did remember you all... And so he killed you every time you would reincarnate.. Until he was chased across the endless sea... And then you reincarnated and he has returned with an army... And here you are now..

So now the party knows the truth, and can see now why their former champions want to try them. The challenge is to convince them that the party has no dietific powers anymore except for the spark that they each have that allows them to continually reincarnate.

With the end of the Old Ones’ story a familiar voice is heard and Kern is seen on the other side of the river holding a glaive. Kern explains to the party that he is following Nirandir to gain his diety power back to unmake Nirandir. Kern tries to entice the party to follow him and his point is heard most by Cassfall who slowly starts to believe what Kern is saying. As Cassfall slowly begins moving towards Kern he pulls out the rod of wonder and tells the party that Nirandirs seers saw all of this happening and that an Immortal came and told the seer and Kern that the party would be here and they would have the rod of wonder. With that Cassfall approaches Kern and they both disappear. Then moments after that the parties wristbands begin to glow blue and everyone disappears.

The Frost Giant's Artifact

As the group reappears from disappearing from Ibram they find themselves back on Excis although blinded by a bright white light. While standing in the light the party can hear a few voices, and a female one in particular saying “Your trial thus begins. You shall wait outside of the Ivory Citadel until after their trial. Your case has been heard."

When the party adjusts to the light of the walls and the white room they see the four from the quadrobunal: Adoreus, Aequitas, Animo, and Sophia sitting up higher then them with James standing to the groups’ right. They also see Kern as he is walking out along with Cassfall right behind him.

James explains to the group the protocols of the trial and the system of law that will be used at the quadrobunal. This includes an appointed speaker for the group that is knowledgeable in the ways of the law.

Within the protocol the Irvis speak first and Animo addresses the party saying that they are charged with reckless loss of deific ability, and that all the other charges have been dropped.

Delgen then begins to argue with the quadrobunal about how they are judge, jury, and executioner. There is a long debate about how rulers rule and carry out laws and sentencing. Many times Delgen and the others in the party were told how they came here willingly, although the choice was that or death.

A loud noise is heard throughout the hall and then Sophia whispers to the others in the quadrobunal, and it is overheard by some of the party members as she told the others that it has been another month and the demons will be back soon. This is followed by Adroreus explaining to the group how they became in charge of the planes. “As you were deities in rule of this plane and several others your dissapearance placed your seconds in charge. As your seconds, we consolidated your remaining power and abandon your realms. All but this one as it was the most stable and was not collapsing due to your dissapearance. This means that we are the acting deific body of Excis, Ibram, and several other planes. This gives us authority to try any upon a connecting plane as it was the deities themselves that created existance.

After the group learns that Excis was Chynovo’s realm James leaves the group and walks out and disappears. This is then followed by the group learning who their appointed speaker is as a man steps out of the shadows in a suit of armor who’s name is Luther. Luther greets the party and says it was an honor to serve for the three former deities.

The formalities of the trial begin and Luther asks the three (Aipholus, Faelyn, and Aelis) for their plea of guilty, or not guilty. The three plead not guilty and learn that if found guilty their punishment is annihilation by emergence into the void. Then Luther explains the next steps of the trial.

Each of the heroes must convince their accusers individually of their innocence starting with Irvis Sophia who was Faelyn’s practitioner. Luther says that she has a special arrangement to test the groups’ claims that they are no longer deities.

The group speaks at length with Luther about themselves and tells him that they are just avatars of their former selves, and with this Luther seems shocked and stunned. The party tells Luther that they just keep reincarnating when the Fienesto needs to be defeated. Luther explains to them that in order to prove that the group is no longer affiliated with their former deific selves they must remove this ability to keep coming back.

The group then learns of Kerns charges and why he was on Excis. Luther explains to the party that Ayedin may have been the deity of Betrayal but while the rest of you loss your deific ability trying to find a way to destroy the finiesto, Ayedin lost his trying to protect your domains from those who sought to subvert you. He is being charged with reckless loss of deific ability because he chose to protect the rest of you instead of protecting himself. He has claimed guilt though claims he is unworthy of punishment. His defense is that he chose to protect those who would not have done the same for him, thereby invalidating his own guilt. With this the group touches Luthers’ gauntlet and they are transported to outside of the Ivory Citadel to speak with Irvis Sophia.

Standing outside the Ivory Citadel the group can hear Irvis Sophia speak but only Faelyn can faintly see her. While Faelyn speaks to Sophia and explains that she pleads innocent the rest of the party see James half buried in the mud and cleaved in two. Sophia explains that the party will be sent to Glace to recover an artifact from the tomb of a fallen ice giant. The ice giant was the personal enemy of Edorin, and the artifact can’t be touched by gods. With the retrieval of the artifact Sophia will believe the party is not gods because they can hold the item.

With this the group touches the finger of the gauntlet of Luther and they are healed and rested and are transported to Glace, but not before Luther looks down to James and says: “Goodbye my brother.”

As the party reappears they find themselves surrounded by sky blue and clouds in all directions. Various rocks float all around you of various sizes and you now realize these rocks are large rocks of ice. These slippery looking rocks are spaced out randomly and while some are only a speck, others are the size of Rivton itself. In the distance you see what appears to be a structure composed of ice, which looks like a cave. While the group tests its new surroundings a large whale passes by seemingly swimming through air as though it was water. Aelis starts to speak whale and gets the whale, whos name is found out to be Agoo, to give the party a ride on its back to the cave.

While on Agoo’s back the party is attacked by a large Dire shark and with some difficulty they finally get some attacks in on the shark before the shark chomps down on Delgen and swallows him. As the shark is swimming away with its dinner Aelis pleads to Agoo and Agoo smacks the shark with its tail and destroys the shark in one swing. While on the remaining part of the trip to the cave on top of Agoo the party learns that Agoo is 17,463 years old, which is only 7 in whale years, and has many children. Agoo also asks Aelis if he has a son and that he can sense that Aelis has love for him.

After arriving at the cave the group and Aelis thank Agoo and jump down and enter the ice cave. Not soon after entering the party is attacked by a large group of frost salamanders. Thinking that this will be an easy battle being in an ice cave Aipholus unleashes a fireball and when he does the fire instantly turns to ice and falls to the ground. Fire magics do not work on this plane. The group fights off the salamanders after a tough battle and then decides to proceed into the cave further to find this artifact that will prove to Irvis Sophia that the group are no longer gods.

Battle in the Ice Cave

With the party just finishing a battle with Ice Salamanders Algeron casts a spell that can discern the direction of the artifact and the group sets out. Aipholus asks Victor (formerly Luther) if he can assist the group in combat, and he says that he cannot but has an emerald and can plane-shift if necessary. Victor explains that he is a creation and has lived his entire life in service and that is all he knows and enjoys.

The party moves a little further into the cave and not soon afterwards they are jumped by another group a Ice Salamanders. The battle ensues and the party ends up breaking up into three battle groups. Vhok, and Delgen battle on the ice due to slipping with help from Algeron and Faelyn. Aelis shapeshifts into a polar bear and manages to fight off some ice salamanders and continues to grapple them in his powerful jaws while Aipholus stands back and fires magic missiles at all of the salamanders.

While Aelis is fighting some salamanders a white wolf comes out from behind them and attacks the salamanders with the party. As the battle rages Delgen, Vhok, and Algeron are badly injured and almost dead. Delgen actually drops at one point in the battle. The white wolf battles fiercely against the salamanders but they injure the wolf badly many times and the wolf retreats only to come back later in the battle.

With the battle finally over and the group seriously injured and out of spells Aelis tries to speak to the white wolf. With using his wild empathy the wolf befriends Aelis and allows him to heal her. The white wolf whos name is Niella displays human like intelligence when speaking with Aelis. Aelis translates to the group the conversation between him and Niella. Niella can some how detect thoughts and emotions and does so with the party, and says it was a gift from Agoo. Niella is concerned with Vhok who she senses greed in and Aipholus who she can’t read his thoughts easily but senses evil within him. The group in exchange for leading them to the artifact within the caves will take Niella back with them with the help of Victor. The group then follows Niella further into the cave and with many questions they ask her along way to her den. Mostly why she senses evil and death within Aipholus….

Finiesto Appears

As the party is finally done battling the frost salamanders they are led back to Niellas’ den to rest. The party continues to the den and along the way discusses more of their trial with Victor and what to do. Ayedin (Kern) is discussed and how in his trial Victor said that he seemed truthful and sincere in his statements.

Finally back to Niellas’ den, she begins to move stuff and prepare enough space for the group when a scream of a man is heard. The group in shock as to what to do, and asking Niella if there is anyone else that lives in the cave, rushes off to investigate the situation.

The group travels back through the ice cave and eventually following the sounds of battle they see an armored man fighting more ice salamanders. The group already beat up and tired rushes in to aid the armored man and combat ensues. With the help of Vhok, Faelyn, and Aipholus the ice salamander is killed and the man thanks the group.

With many thanks and gracious words the man explains to the group that his name is Ridiran of Eyrdia and that he was sent to the plane of Glace as a punishment from a wizard named Meloc who didn’t like what he had to say of his practices. Ridiran also explains to the group that he is a servant of Duke George Lord Halibur.

As the group continues back towards Niella’s den once more Ridiran explains to the party that this wizard Meloc had been the one to offer a truce to the dragon kind after the fall of Falkenia and the capture of Rivton. With this new information the party realizes that they have been gone for many months and much has happened since they have left. Wondering how Ridiran is going to get home back to Erydia and not wanting to leave anyone behind Victor explains that he can send Ridiran back tonight before his powers are reset for a new day and to take the rest of the party out of Glace.

Once back at Niella’s den with the resourcefulness of Faelyn a magical tiny hut is created and all can fit inside and remain warm and rest comfortably in the harsh cold. Once inside the hut the group relaxes and conversation is made by all with their new guest Ridiran. Ridiran explains that his name is Lilandian and that his fathers name was Aiden Trimeris. He also begins to explain that his father killed many Lilandian. Then as the conversation moves to the capture of Rivton, Ridiran pauses and stares off for a while thinking about something, and just at that moment Aipholus lets magic missiles fly and slam right into the chest of Ridiran.

Stunned and confused the party jumps to their feet and as Ridiran slowly rises Faelyn explains to the group that if you rearrange the letters of Ridirans name you get Nirandir. Nirandir explains to the group that when he told the Ivory Citadel of the parties’ existence he was taking a gamble that they would all be captured and brought to one place. In that moment Victor then remembers where he saw Nirandir from and Nirandir in one swing of his blade slices Victor into pieces.

With the group preparing for the fight of their lives Nirandir offers them one last chance to join them and shows them his power and with his trembling fist it erupts into flame even on Glace. The group defiant to the end shouts back at Nirandir telling him that they will never tell him how they have eluded him for so long and with that Algeron and Delgen jump up in front of Nirandir to prepare for battle. Just before Nirandirs’ blade falls onto Algeron and Delgen a hand grabs Nirandirs foot and the words Plane Shift are heard and the three are gone.

The group concerned for their friends lives quickly turn to the fallen Victor on the ground. Victor calls Vhok over to him and explains to him that he has seen many great warriors and that he must take his place. Victor hands the jewel to Vho that has the power to plane shift. When Vhok goes to take the gem the entire gauntlet comes off with it. Victor also explains to Vhok that he knows that he is not the avatar of a god but that he is the paragon of man. Before Victor departs he tells Vhok to say the words of unus vacuus unus to the council.

They party now completely stunned and utterly exhausted rests in their tiny hut and picks up and distributes the gear left in the hut by their companions Algeron and Delgen. After a nights rest Niella leads the group in the direction of the frost giants artifact, which they were sent to claim. After traveling though more ice tunnels they exit the cave and arrive at a huge ice flow that separates them from another cave entrance. Niella shows the group how to hop from flow to flow and waits as the group comes up with a plan as to how to cross safely. Vhok removes a sword from his pack and drives it deep within the ice and ties a rope to it. Then Aelis with the help of the rabbit ring found on Borox easily crosses the ice flows following Niellas lead, and only a couple times slipped and was caught by the wolf to prevent him from slipping. With the rope and Aelis across to the other side Vhok drinks a potion of gaseous form and floats across the flows and drives another sword into the ice and ties the rope off. Aelis shifts into bird form and flies the ring back and forth to his other companions to use until all are safely across the deadly ice flow river.

Once inside the new ice cave only a gigantic statue of an ice giant stands on the other side with writing on its base that reads: movement is shallow, subtle and cold.Resting upon this grave, I have grown old. But within my stomach lies the key.A magical trinket hath brought glee.Break my stomach to move beyond,but be warned of your greed.I am unbreakable by the strength of a 1,000 men. With that the group thinks for a moment and Aipholus suggests that a woman is the answer and that Faelyn try and get the key.

The group slowly moves back as Faelyn approaches the statue and reaches into the stomach and pulls out a key and with that the entire statue disappears and a hallway that leads into another room is revealed with a chest at the end. The group slowly and cautiously makes their way to the chest and uses the wand of knock to open the chest.

With the chest open a hat flies out of the chest and flies around the room using its brim as wings. The group slowly corners the hat and Aipholus quickly leaps out and grabs the hat to catch it before it can fly away and places it on his head. When he tries to remove the hat it doesn’t come off. With the artifact in the groups possession Vhok holds out his hand with the gauntlet on it and as everyone grabs on and Aelis holds onto Niella the party is teleported away…