Chapter 4: A Deeper Darkness

Turn 88: Grudge Match

“I hath a bad feeling about this,” said Sparhawk. “Our doughty companion hath bravely and fearlessly gone to retrieve this orb, but we hath no way of knowing whether he is alive, dead, or in trouble. Following canst be perilous not merely to life and limb, but also perhaps to the mission if we plunge in after him and he reappear without us. On the other hand, he might need our succor, and yet we canst not help him. Is time different? Where hath he gone? I liketh these strange adventures not! I only wish that I had spoken up sooner and volunteered to go. He hath truly won mine admiration, and mayest Heironeous bring him back to us safely.”

After making these comments, Sparhawk fell back into silent introspection for several moments before looking up once again and adding, “Methinks we should give my lord and mine fellow paladin weapons befitting their abilities and that these weapons be magicked so that they mayest strike down these foul creatures. I canst only offer a magical club, which seemeth unsuitable. Doth anyone hath enchanted weapons to offer these well-found companions weapons to wield, yet not to keep? I shalt gladly offer a price if 'tis necessary, though I wish not to offend, for I know mine companions wilt offer it for the good of all and these two fine warriors.”

“Peter,” said Luger, “once I've had an opportunity to regain spells from Heironeus, I can infuse our friends' weapons with his power. While I would be happy to loan Geistblatt to more capable hands, I believe the power of Heironeus will be much more effective.”

Responding to Sparhawk’s comments, Tenaris got up from where she had been sitting huddled with Vister. She withdrew the short sword that Danton had given her that had the power to burst into flames when wielded and extended it hilt-first to Thrommel. “Prince Thrommel, I will put at your disposal this magical, flaming short sword. A short sword is hardly a weapon for a prince, yet this one, if you'll permit the conceit, is truly a worthy weapon. It was gifted to me by my dearly fallen Danton, who, like your own Jolene, hailed from Veluna. Danton christened it 'Maicarya,' and it is dear to me. But it would serve the best end in your hands and not merely girt to my side, and so I gladly loan it to you. Were it any other weapon, I would gift it to you outright, but, because it was given me by my beau, I must ask for it back when this long quest is at an end.”

“My thanks, Tenaris,” replied the Furyondian prince as he accepted the blade. “As with Justice, I shall put Maicarya to good use until such time as I find a suitable weapon of my own.”

Tenaris nodded and then looked around at the oppressive, impenetrable darkness on all sides of the room—save for the north wall. She then withdrew from her pocket two of the makeshift metal chess pieces that Danton had acquired in the mines.

“I suppose if Danton were around, he'd probably want to play this silly game of his while we're waiting,” she said.

Sparhawk, who had been reflexively standing guard in front of Thrommel, chuckled and said, “Is that an open challenge, milady? Didst Danton ever get the opportunity to teach you the moves that each piece canst make or the strategy involved?”

“Ha!” shot back Tenaris. “I've no interest in theoretical warfare or wargames -- I prefer the real thing. I remember watching that game between Danton and Syll a while back, and it bored me half to death. No thanks. Still ... if Danton should make it back from the dead, I might sit down to play a round or two with him. And, more than that, I might even let him win.”

“Or not,” she added suddenly.

“Pardon me, milady, but thou art . . . complex,” said Sparhawk with a shake of his head. “A puzzle wrapped inside an enigma for me. But, I admire thine courage and skill with a blade.”

“In case you haven't noticed, Sir Sparhawk, I consider it my prerogative to be complex. As an elf, I find it to be a commodity. As a woman, I know it to be a necessity. Ah, but I would trade such complexity for ... well ... I think you know full well what for, Sir Sparhawk.”

Tenaris stuffed the bits of metal back into her pocket and then, already shaking from the unnatural cold, returned to huddle with Vister once more in the oversized Purple Robe of Tharizdun.

“Huh,” muttered Sparhawk to himself. “Even more puzzling to me. I wilt stick to fighting dragons. Less dangerous.”

***

[Initiative: Syll: 18, Hounds of Darkness:18]

As Syll watched the two huge shadowy dogs rush towards him, the elf briefly considered flight, but there was simply nowhere to go. The only avenue of possible escape was the dark hallway—from which the dogs where charging him. Thus resigned to the inevitable, Syll set down the torch of revealing and the black thurible, removed his longsword, and launched a fireball at the onrushing hounds, detonating it so close to himself that he was buffeted by the wave of heat and moving air that it produced (34 damage in a 20 foot radius centered just far enough away from Syll to avoid burning him).

Both hounds were caught in the flames, but one more directly than the other. However, even as they burned, both dogs rushed through the fire and launched themselves at Syll. The elf threw himself to the ground and rolled forward as the hounds leaped at him, causing both to miss him as they flew through the air and landed on the stairs leading up to the altar.

While Syll rolled back onto his feet, both hounds, still standing on the lower stairs, threw their heads back and let out an awful baying that echoed off the walls and pounded into Syll’s skull, threatening his ability to focus on defending himself (Will save: 15+10=25; success).

Then the dogs were on Syll again. One of them bit his right leg and only his protective stoneskin spell prevented a nasty wound (hit for 10-10=0 damage; 10 points stoneskin used). Syll countered with his longsword, bringing it down on the skull of the more badly burned of the two dogs (attack: 9+6=16; hit; 4 damage). The hound let out a whimper and crumpled to the ground.

Syll whirled about in an effort to strike the second dog (attack: 2+7=9; miss), but it moved too quickly, biting him in on his left leg (hit for 8-8=0 damage; 8 points stoneskin used) and grabbing hold. Syll swung at it again (attack: 2+7=9; miss), but it thrashed about with such force that he missed it once more, even as it continued to try to penetrate his magical defenses (hit for 10-10=0 damage; 10 points stoneskin used).

Growing increasingly frustrated at the dog attached to his leg and his inability to hit it, Syll gripped his sword in both hands and brought it down on the dog’s back with all the force he could muster (attack: 19+7=26; potential critical hit—2^nd roll: 16+7=23; critical hit; 12 damage). There was a sound of cracking bone as the sword hit the hound and its legs collapsed out from underneath it. Not wanting to wait around to see if any other enemies would appear from out of the shadows, Syll sheathed his sword, gathered up the torch of revealing and the black thurible, and headed down the dark hallway.

***

Tenaris had removed Danton’s journal from her pack and begun to flip through it when suddenly there was the faint sound of metal clattering on stone somewhere off to the south—from the direction of the unnatural darkness behind the purple veil through which Syll had disappeared. This was followed almost immediately by the sound of a powerful explosion from the same direction. This explosion shook the chamber in which the party was waiting, and the field of shimmering purple energy winked out of existence, followed a moment later by the two black columns that had ‘supported’ the energy field.

Tenaris was on her feet in a flash, her longsword drawn. She, Sparhawk, Luger, and Thrommel, all now armed, moved towards the center of the room and positioned themselves to deal with anything that might emerge from the darkness to the south. Vister, still chilled by the awful cold, was slower, but she too got to her feet and moved to join the others in a defensive position.

There were no more explosions, but there was a strange howling sound from off to the south, followed by sounds that might have signaled combat of some sort. This lasted for less than a minute. Then there were several moments of silence, during which the party members gazed back and forth between one another and the wall of impenetrable darkness to the south.

And then, looking for all the world as if he were strolling into the West End Cantina in Woodstock, Sylfaen Trebuchet stepped out of the impenetrable darkness, the torch of revealing in one hand, his sword in the other, and a smirk on his face.

“Heyo, boyos! Me’s-a back!” said the elf.

“Syll!” said Sparhawk with a laugh. “Where hath you been?”

“I have no idea,” replied the sorcerer. “But I got what we came for—the Orb of Silvery Death, along with some other stuff that I’ll have to identify later. When I had everything, I used the thurible like Danton’s notes said, and they brought me back to the temple—which, by the way, is just down a hall from here, through the darkness. There were some pooches that attacked me, but I took care of ‘em. Now, let’s blow this pop stand, shall we?”

“Where shall we go now?” asked Sparhawk. “We hath had so many things to accomplish that I cannot remember them all unless Tenaris doth read from Danton’s list.”

“Luger,” said Tenaris firmly, “you are the leader of our party. Danton tried to play that role, successfully or not, when he lived, but I think that yoke plainly falls upon you, whether you like it or not. I don't mean any offense to anyone when I say that, but that's how I see it. I would like to know your feelings.”

“I am humbled that you consider me your leader,” replied the cleric, “but I am a servant of my god, Heironeus. I will freely offer my advice, my succor and my opinions, but I do not accept leadership over anyone. I am guided by my conscience and the will of Heironeus and if anyone chooses to follow my same path, I welcome their company.”

Tenaris would have none of such modesty. “In Celene,” she said, “there are those who lead by virtue of title and those who lead by dint of character. Elves follow the former because they have to, but the latter because they want to. In any case, do we now attempt immediately to enter the Inner Fane? My first thought was yes, but obviously if we need rest first, then that's what we must do.”

“I honestly had not thought so far ahead as entering the Inner Fane yet,” said Luger. “I think we should clean up our loose ends here before taking on the Doomdreamers. We still have strong enemies that we know of that I would prefer not be here to harry us after we've dealt with the Doomdreamers. I also think we need to be at full strength before approaching the Inner Fane. I am also a bit leery of Varachan, but he had given us considerable aid. If it was all a ploy to take power for himself, then we should probably deal with him as well before entering the Inner Fane.”

“If Varachan is not his room,” continued the cleric, “we could hole up in the room we found those tongueless slaves in. I would not mind tracking down Naquent and taking her out yet today either.”

“If you wish to track down Naquest and kill her, I'm all for it,” said Tenaris. “Same goes for Ukemil, though, granted, he seems a tougher nut to crack. So I'm game for that detour before going into the Inner Fane. The question is how to do it? If we can’t find Naquent -- or Ukemil -- in the library or their quarters, what other choice do we have but to enter the Inner Fane? Finally, as for Varachan, I'm afraid both that he might be dirty and also that he might be clean ... but captured and tortured to give up what he knows. Either way, we lose. So sleeping elsewhere might be ... in Danton's words ... 'prudent'.”

“Fine,” said Syll. “Then let’s get out of this freezer, try to find Varachan, and then get some rest—in a different room like you said. When we do try to catch our z’s, I’ve got something to try that might help us remain, undisturbed, shall we say.”

“Just one other thing before we go,” said Tenaris. “Let’s use that torch of yours to make sure we know the full dimensions of this room.”

No one objected to this proposal, so Syll led the rest of the party around the sides of the room and through the darkness on its eastern, western, and southern edges. To the east, which the party had already mostly explored, there was a blank wall twenty feet beyond where the area of darkness began. To the south there was twenty feet of darkness and then a wall as well, but beyond that—in the center of the southern wall—was the hallway up which Syll had run after destroying the two strange hounds. At the southern end of that hallway was the temple where he had been returned when he used the black thurible after recovering the Orb of Silvery Death from wherever he had been when he took it.

The western area of darkness was twenty feet deep too. Beyond it was mostly wall, except for near its northern end. When the party passed through the darkness in that area, it found itself in a long hallway, 20 feet wide, that was blocked by a series of translucent, lilac-colored walls. In front of each wall was a black pedestal topped with a small gray statue of a squat, obese, grinning demon.

“One of the ways to the Inner Fane, I think, ” pronounced Tenaris after looking at Danton’s map.

“Yup,” agreed Syll. “I read about this in his notebook. There are riddles or questions to get through each wall, and Varachan supposedly gave us the answers to the riddles. But we’ll test that—or not—later. For now, let’s get out of here.”

With the boundaries of the room in which most of the party had waited for Syll’s return thus defined, the whole group made for the double doors by which they had entered in the first place. Sparhawk and Thrommel opened them, and the party went out into the hall outside before the two Furyondians shut the doors again. Once outside, the party moved quickly up the hallway.

[Listen: Syll: 5+4=9, Luger: 5+5=10, Sparhawk: 18+2=20, Tenaris: 18+2=20]

As the party neared the northern end of the hallway and Sparhawk and Thrommel began to lead it towards the eastern exit, both Tenaris and Sparhawk caught a faint sound of something scratching on stone.

Still looking eastward, Sparhawk put up his hand to signal the others to halt. Tenaris thought the sound had come from the west, so she looked that direction. A fraction of a second later, four massive green-scaled lions burst into the chamber—two from the west and two from the east.

“It’s a trap!” screamed Tenaris. “Ukemil and his pets!”

[Initiative: Tenaris: 26, Thrommel: 23, Lions: 19, Syll: 18, Sparhawk: 13, Luger: 7, Vister: 2]

Rushing to the western entrance with Vister at her side, Tenaris moved to intercept the pair of lions approaching from that direction (attack: 12+14=26, 5+9=14; one hit; 8-5=3 damage). Tenaris struck one of the creatures a hard blow, but its armored scales resisted most of the bite of her longsword. In return, the lion bit and clawed at the fighter, striking her twice with its massive forepaws (17 damage taken). Vister blocked the second lion coming from the west and began exchanging strikes with it just as Tenaris did with the first.

On the eastern side of the chamber, Thrommel and Sparhawk moved to take on the other two lions. The Furyondian prince seemed to Sparhawk to be much more effective with Tenaris’ enchanted short sword than he had been with Justice, even if the lions seemed totally immune to the flaming effect of Maicarya. The lion that Sparhawk faced clawed him badly twice (23 total damage taken) before he could bring Caladbolg to bear to strike back (attack: 5+12=17, 17+7=24; two hits; 9-5=4 and 15-5=10 damage). The lions remained as tough as ever, but Caladbolg did manage to bite through their armored scales enough to do at least some damage.

[Initiative: Unknown woman: 18]

Even as the fight with the lions was beginning, a tall, thin woman with long brown hair who wore ochre robes and an inverted ziggurat pendant around her neck appeared in the western corridor, well behind the two lions. She was already casting a spell of some sort when Syll, Tenaris, and Vister caught sight of her, and moments later a black, noxious cloud swept over the entire party (Fortitude Save: Syll—none needed, Sparhawk: 17+14=31; success—15 damage taken; Luger: 13+12=25; success—15 damage taken; Tenaris: 14+9=23; success—15 damage taken). The black cloud did not last for long, but it caused pain and nausea in everyone that it swept over, except for Syll, who was somehow utterly unaffected by it.

Syll’s reply to the black cloud came only a fraction of a second later. Moving up to stand immediately behind Tenaris and Vister, the sorcerer sent a blast of freezing cold sweeping over the two lions and the woman behind them (Cast Cone of Cold: 31 damage; Caster level check needed versus the unknown woman: 5+12=17; failure). The icy blast swept towards all three enemies, but one of the lions dodged to the side of it, while the woman seemed entirely unaffected by the cold that struck her.

Luger had seen the arrival of the woman as well and he decided to target her with a powerful spell that he had been holding in reserve. Shrugging off the effects of her magical attack on the party (concentration check: 19+12=31; success), Luger called down Heironeous’ divine fire on the woman (Cast Flame Strike: 41 damage; Caster level check: 19+11=30; success). As the fire struck the woman, Luger felt some sort of resistance to the spell, but his flames blasted through that resistance. However, just as with Syll’s blast of cold, there was nevertheless no apparent effect on the woman.

“Ho! More enemies!” yelled Sparhawk. “’Tis the reptile man!”

[Initiative: Ukemil: 5]

Luger whipped his head around to the east just in time to see the creature that he now knew was the reptilian priest Ukemil moving up to take a position behind the two of his lions that Sparhawk and Thrommel were fighting. Ukemil cast some sort of spell at Sparhawk that caused the paladin’s muscles to start clenching up on him. The spell would have succeeded had not the paladin felt a sudden infusion of willpower from Caladbolg augmenting his own determination and throwing off the cleric’s evil spell (Sparhawk will save: 6+10=16; success).

While Tenaris (attack 5+14=19, 5+9=14; one hit; 11-5=6 damage) and Vister continued to exchange blows with the lions on the western side of the room (Tenaris clawed once for 9 damage) and Thrommel and Sparhawk (attack: 7+13=20, 5+8=13; one hit; 14-5=9 damage) did the same on the eastern side (Sparhawk clawed once for 8 damage), Luger and Syll engaged the two enemy spellcasters from a distance.

First, the brown-haired woman cast some sort of spell directly at Syll, but whatever it was, it had no effect whatsoever, which produced a scream of frustration from the woman. Syll countered with another blast of cold that swept over the woman and the two lions that Tenaris and Vister were facing (Cast Cone of Cold: 39 damage). This time both lions were struck squarely, and the one that Vister had been fighting actually collapsed—totally frozen—to the ground as the cold and ice swept over it. Once again, however, the magical attack had no effect on the woman behind the lions (Syll Caster Level Check: 8+12=20; failure). Now it was Syll who cursed in frustration at the ineffectiveness of his attacks on the woman.

Scrambling for a scroll now that most of his own spells were exhausted, Luger quickly read off a spell. Having observed the ability of the other enemy spellcaster to shrug off every magical attack directed at her, Luger decided to test whether Ukemil had the same level of protection. He thus targeted his attack at the reptile-man (Cast Hold Person from a scroll). Much to Luger’s satisfaction, the reptilian cleric, who had been in the middle of casting his own spell, froze in his tracks—effectively taken out of the fight.

“Ukemil’s out of it!” yelled Luger. “Get the woman ,Syll!”

Still hacking away at one of the lions (attack: 11+14=25, 6+9=15; one hit; 9-5=4 damage) to little effect, Tenaris found herself being gradually pushed backward towards Luger and Syll as the lion clawed her yet again (hit for 13 damage).

“Hold on! I’m coming!” yelled Vister from somewhere nearby. The other woman moved to aid Tenaris now that Syll had killed the lion that the paladin had been facing, but before Vister could do anything to help Tenaris, the spellcasting woman that Syll had been engaging suddenly yelled out the word, “Fall!” in a booming voice.

This word bounced off the walls of the room and pounded in everyone’s ears—except Syll’s (will saves: Syll—none needed, Luger: 7+15=22; success, Sparhawk: 8+10=18; failure, Tenaris: 6+6=12; failure). Luger and Thrommel were able to resist the pounding compulsion in their heads, but Tenaris, Vister, and Sparhawk all found themselves powerless to resist the command issued by the shouting woman. All three of them collapsed to the ground, their weapons and shields clattering to the floor around them.

With Tenaris and Vister both down, the remaining lion on the western side of the room had an open path towards Syll, but the sorcerer had time to get off one more spell before it reached him (Cast Cone of Cold: 39 damage). He aimed his third icy barrage so that it would strike both the lion and the woman, but the lion leaped to the side at the last moment, avoiding almost all of the attack. However, this third cold attack did finally seem to affect the woman when it struck her (Syll Caster Level Check: 17+12=29; success). The woman’s skin took on a sickly bluish color and ice hung from her hair and clothing. She cursed at Syll in a most unladylike fashion and cast yet another spell at him, but once again it had no effect.

With Sparhawk down, Luger had little choice but to move forward and take on the lion that the paladin had been facing. But he still had a few surprises up his sleeve in the form of additional scrolls and he cast another spell from one as he moved to face the lion (Cast Harm from a scroll; touch attack on lion: 17+10=27; hit; 45 damage done). As soon as he finished reading the incantation, Luger reached out to touch the lion with his hand. He was clawed badly for his efforts (9 damage taken—concentration check: 11+12=23; success), but when his hand came into contact with the lion, a wave of life-draining energy swept through the creature, causing its many of its scales to blacken and fall off. The attack was so devastating that it staggered the lion, causing it to back away and giving Luger enough time to start casting another spell.

As the fight raged around them, both Tenaris (will save: 1+6=7; failure) and Sparhwk (will save: 8+10=18), tried to fight the compulsion that kept them both lying on the floor, but, at least for the moment, neither was able to find the strength of will to get up and resume fighting. Lying on the floor, Tenaris could see that Vister—who was right next to her—was similarly unable to get up.

Without Tenaris and Vister to keep the last of the “western” lions off him, Syll knew he had to escape. He began casting a levitation spell, but then the lion slammed into him (hit for 10-10=0 and 8-8-0 damage; 18 stoneskin lost). Had it not been for his protective magic, he would no doubt have been knocked off his feet, but as it was, the elf was able to complete his incantation and fly up to the ceiling, out of reach of the lion.

While Luger was still casting his spell, the lion that he had injured so badly came at him again, clawing him badly twice (16 damage taken: concentration check: 18+12=30; success). Despite the awful pain, Luger managed to finish his appeal to Heironeous to prepare him to fight in melee (Cast Divine Power: +3 Strength, +11 Hit Points, Base attack bonus raised to 11/6/1). With power flowing through his body, Luger then withdrew Geistblatt and advanced on the lion. He blocked it with his shield as it came at him, and then struck it down with a series of hammer blows (attack: 20+14=34, 14+9=23, 15+4=19; two hits and one potential critical hit—2^nd roll: 7+14=21; critical hit; 18-5=13, 9-5=4, 10-5=5 damage). Geistblatt now cut through the blackened and shriveled scales of the lion with relative ease and the creature fell lifeless to the floor.

Although the remaining “western” lion could no longer reach Syll and ran off to fight Luger and Thrommel, the spellcasting woman continued to focus her wrath on the elven sorcerer. She now withdrew a wand of some sort and fired a beam of energy from it at him, but, as with all of her other magic used against Syll, it had no effect whatsoever. The woman was still screaming and cursing in rage and frustration when Syll dropped a fireball on her head (37 damage; Caster Level Check: 9+12=21; failure). Unfortunately, Syll’s efforts were just as useless as those of his opponent, and his fireball did no more than her wand.

“We’re gonna be here all day at this rate,” muttered the sorcerer.

As Syll and the robed woman yelled curses and threw useless magic at one another, Tenaris finally managed to find the will to stand up (willsave: 20+6=26; success). Sparhawk was still pinned to the ground (will save: 2+10=12; failure), but Vister managed to throw off the command to stay on the floor at the same time that Tenaris did. The elven warrior and paladin grabbed up their weapons and both of them charged the woman who had laid them low (Tenaris attack: 13+14=27; 4+9=13; one hit; 9 damage).

Even as Tenaris and Vister surrounded the woman, Thrommel killed a third of Ukemil’s lions, having finally worn it down with an endless series of blows from Maicarya. With three lions down and Ukemil held by Luger’s magic, of the party’s enemies, only a single lion and the spellcasting woman were still in the fight. On the other side, everyone except Sparhawk was now back in the action.

Growing weary of expending powerful spells uselessly against the woman, Syll decided to shift tactics. He began casting a dispel magic spell, intending to target it directly at her. But just as he fired off the spell, and even as Vister and Tenaris were hacking away at the woman, she simply disappeared into thin air. It did not appear that she had simply turned invisible, for Tenaris and Vister swung their swords all through the area where the woman had been—striking nothing.

“Forget it!” yelled Syll from the ceiling, a deeply annoyed tone in his voice. “She teleported or something. Help Luger and Thrommel drop that last lion!”

Tenaris and Vister quickly complied and within a matter of moments, they, Luger, and Thrommel had managed to finish the creature (Tenaris attack: 2+14+2 flanking bonus=18, 5+9+2=16; two hits; 9-5=4 and 8-5=3 damage; Luger attack: 11+14=25; 3+9=12; 9+4=13; one hit; 12-5=7 damage). It was Thrommel who finally delivered the coup de grace on the lion, but by then Tenaris, Luger, and Vister had all helped him cut it to tatters. Throughout all of this, Sparhawk remained unable to get up off the floor (will save: 3+10=13).

By the time the last lion was dead, Syll had floated back down to the floor.

“I think that bitch who got away was Naquent,” he said. “Varachan told us Naquent was a tricky one and that woman was tricky in spades. I don’t know what she did, but somehow she blocked almost everything I threw at her—and I was tossing everything but the kitchen sink!”

“We must deal with Ukemil quickly,” said Luger, moving towards the still stunned enemy cleric. “That spell I cast will not hold him much longer.”

“Leave him to me,” said Tenaris grimly. “I wanted to kill Naquent, but apparently that will have to wait, so I’ll settle for this guy for now.”

Without waiting for anyone else to approve or disapprove her obvious intention, Tenaris ran the helpless reptilian cleric through with her longsword, then kicked him off the blade and ran him through again—just for good measure—once he was on the ground.

“That was for Danton, you ass!” she hissed as she wiped off her blade on Ukemil’s leather armor.

“You know we might have gotten information from him,” protested Syll.

“Not likely,” said Tenaris. “Naquent or whoever that was that got away could be back here with reinforcements in no time. We’re in no shape for another fight and we already have all the information we need from Varachan. Now, let’s get going. Luger, where to?”

“Back to the room where those slaves were,” said the cleric. “We will camp there and rest.”

Syll grumbled, but he went along, lingering behind the others just long enough to cast detect magic and use it to examine Ukemil’s belongings. Discerning that the dead cleric’s leather armor, short sword, a potion, and a single scroll were all magical, he gathered up these items, along with a coin purse, an iron key, and Ukemil’s inverted ziggurat pendant. With all of these items in hand or pack, Syll ran off after the others.

***

Twenty minutes later, the party had sealed itself inside the room at the northern end of the Outer Fane that had previously housed the slaves whose tongues had been removed by their captors. The room was small, dark, and dingy, not to mention that it smelled awful. No one particularly relished the thought of sleeping in such an environment, but whereas everyone else seemed resigned to this, Syll did not.

“No worries,” said the elf when he saw the looks that the others were giving the room as they tried to find the least filthy spots to unroll their bedrolls. “Just watch this.”

[Syll Cast Rope Trick]

Removing a length of rope from his pack, Syll performed some sort of incantation and then one end of his rope floated up into the air until it hung suspended ten feet in the air. Syll then moved to the rope and, without explanation, climbed up it to the top. Once there, he reached his arms up as if he were pulling himself up onto something and then disappeared from view.

“What manner of wizardry be this?” asked Sparhawk in amazement.

“I have seen such things before,” pronounced Thrommel. “Trust me, my friend, we shall be fine.”

So saying, the prince climbed up the rope and disappeared from sight, just as Syll had done.

Sparhawk stood shaking his head as Tenaris and Vister followed suit. When Luger went up the rope as well, Sparhawk finally sighed, muttered something unintelligible, and climbed up the rope.

When Sparhawk reached the top of the rope, he found himself…somewhere. Somehow he and the others were now both still in the room where the slaves had lived and not in that room…at the same time. Syll and Thrommel were unloading their packs, walking about on what appeared to be empty air, while Tenaris pulled up the rest of the rope from below. Looking down, Sparhawk could still see the room below him.

“How can this be?” the Furyondian paladin asked in bewilderment.

“Well, I’ve kind of just warped the space-time continuum a bit,” said Syll in his most nonchalant tone. “Ya see, I’ve bent space to create more space for us here—a nice little camping area if I do say so myself—that no one below can see or perceive. Yet we can still look down and peek at anybody who comes a calling. It all has to do with the multiverse of extradimensional spaces, or ‘planes’ as some folks call ‘em.”

“Oh, mine head doth spin even worse at thine words,” moaned Sparhawk. “I believe that I shalt simply not look down and pretend that mine feet standeth on solid ground. Heironeous preserve us!”

“Naw, it ain’t like that at all,” said Syll with a laugh. “You’re really, standing, well, on nothing at the moment. But at the same time, it’s solid nothingness. But don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of time for me to explain it all, in great detail.”

Sparhawk only groaned and collapsed down heavily to sit on…nothing.

***

With Syll periodically renewing the magic that enabled the party to camp in the extradimensional space, the group rested for close to thirty-six hours, enabling Luger and the paladins to heal the many injuries that everyone, except Syll, had suffered in what had been a very long day of exploring the Outer Fane (whole party healed to full strength). The time also allowed Syll to identify all of the magic items that the party had recently acquired.

Ukemil’s equipment turned out to be a short sword +1, a potion of cat’s grace, a divine scroll with the spells cure light wounds, divine favor, and locate object, and +2 leather armor of silent moves. Luger took the scroll with the spells, while Vister took the short sword. Syll gave the potion to Tenaris, and stuffed the leather armor into his own pack. No one in the party had any use for the armor—including Syll, but it might be worth something if sold, he figured. Ukemil’s coinage was distributed among all those present. Syll held onto Ukemil’s holy symbol and iron key.

The items that Syll had recovered from beyond the purple veil turned out to be much more interesting than Ukemil’s belongings. The black rod was a rod of force, which Syll determined could be used up to five times per day to do any one of three things: create a magical wall of force, create a glowing blade of energy (for ten rounds per time) that could be wielded like a longsword (as a +1 brilliant energy longsword), or launch powerful blasts of magical energy at foes up to a hundred feet away (10D6 damage per blast). As for the two rings that Syll had taken, they were worthless individually, but when worn together, one on each hand, they were rings of force armor that created a field of protective energy around the wearer. This energy was harmful to the touch of anyone outside of it, so others had to keep their distance from anyone wearing the rings. Syll was the only one in the party who could make use of the rod of force and he was also the only party member who had never been able to find any kind of armor or protective equipment that he could use, so he kept the rings as well. Because he could not wear any other magical rings along with the rings of force armor, Syll gave his ring of feather falling to Sparhawk and his ring of protection +1 to Tenaris. The elf kept his ring of climbing in a pocket, figuring that it might be wise to keep at least one such maneuverability ring available in case he ever needed it.

“Now you don’t have to worry about falling in pits any more,” said the sorcerer to the paladin when he gave him the feather falling ring and explained how it worked.

Syll tried to use his identifying magic on the Orb of Silvery Death as well, but it resisted all his efforts, and its mental voice refused to tell him anything more than it already had. The object continued to exhort Syll to make use of the powers it had already explained to him.

During this long period of rest time, Tenaris looked through Danton’s journals once again. Something drew her almost immediately to the last entry. Upon reading it, and seeing Danton’s sentiments—particularly his confirmation that he wished to preserve the resurrection scroll to raise Tenaris, as well as the fact that he was so disconsolate over their last fight, Tenaris became deeply upset. When Vister, showing an uncharacteristic softness, asked the other elven woman what was wrong, Tenaris said:

“It was one of Danton’s journal entries … his last one. He wrote things that …. well, things that just make me wish he was still here with us … here with me.”

After that, Tenaris would say no more and she buried both of Danton’s journals deep in her pack. Instead of reading further, she poured herself a cup of the cheap red wine that Danton had brought back from Rastor. Pouring out what remained of the bottle for each of the others, Tenaris then toasted Danton’s memory, and the others did the same before draining their cups.

When Syll asked what she planned to do with the other three bottles of the wine, Tenaris said quietly, “Those are for a reunion drink.”

On the party’s second ‘morning’ in Syll’s extradimensional space, the group was finally ready to move out. Everyone was at full strength, spells had been prepared, and items identified. The party would likely never be better prepared to enter the Inner Fane. Naquent remained a clear and present threat and Varachan an unknown variable but everything else that the party had set out to accomplish in the Outer Fane had been done. Save for killing Naquent, Tenaris had crossed all the “to do” items off Danton’s list.

As the last of the party members climbed down Syll’s rope into the room below and the sorcerer dispelled the party’s hidden refuge, Tenaris looked through Danton’s notes on the routes to the Inner Fane.

“Whichever way we go, the Inner Fane is supposedly surrounded by a ‘blasted wasteland’ fraught with peril and infested with ‘powerful wights.’ Those sound nasty, so we had best be ready to deal with them.”

“Peter and Vister and I shall be prepared to turn the undead horrors,” said Luger in his most assuring voice.

“And I’ll power up everyone with stoneskin right before we go in,” added Syll. “That ought to help us if any of them get through and we actually have to fight.”

Once out of the former prison for the slaves, the party headed east and south through the Outer Fane. The group’s depredations throughout the fane seemed to be taking a toll on those who lived here, for not only did the party not encounter anyone or anything living as they made their way back to the vestibule that would lead to the Outer Fane, but they also discovered that the bodies of Ukemil and his lions were where they had fallen. Despite the fact that two days had passed, no one had bothered to clean up the area.

Once the group was outside the two massive double doors, Syll lit the torch of revealing once again and the party opened the doors. From there, the group marched quickly through the unnatural darkness until they came to the strange hallway with the translucent walls and the little demon statues. With Danton’s notebook in hand, Syll moved up to the front of the party. When he drew close to the first demon statue and the first wall, a disembodied voice spoke:

“Who?” said the voice, which might have come from the demon statue.

“Sylfaen Trebuchet,” replied the sorcerer.

With that, the first of the translucent walls disappeared and Syll moved forward.

“What?” asked the voice.

“The journal of Danton Verbrugge of Veluna,” replied Syll.

The second wall disappeared.

“Where?” asked the voice when Syll moved forward again, with the others trailing behind him.

“The Outer Fane,” answered Syll, still taking his cues from Danton’s notes on the party’s conversation with Varachan.

Another wall faded out.

“Why?” asked the disembodied voice.

“To destroy the cult once and for all and gain more booty than we can possibly imagine,” replied Syll.

The fourth wall was gone. With only two of the walls remaining, the far wall, which had an ironbound door in it, was now clearly visible.

“When?” asked the voice.

“Never,” replied Syll.

Only one translucent wall now remained. Syll moved forward.

“Who?” asked the voice.

“Tharizdun,” replied Syll, closing Danton’s notebook even as the last wall faded.

As Syll had answered the six questions, the party had traveled a distance of roughly sixty feet, and the group now stood in front of a stone wall with the single ironbound door in its center.

“Beyond this door lie the ‘blasted wasteland’ and the Inner Fane,” said Syll in an uncharacteristically solemn tone. “I fear that all the dangers and horrors we have experienced up to now were child’s play compared with what is to come.”

“Oh, come on,” said Tenaris lightly. “We’re about to strike at the heart of the cult, and you’re talking about the boogeyman!”

Syll shrugged. “I didn’t say we shouldn’t go for it,” he said as he began moving about casting stoneskin spells on the party. “I’m just saying that we’re about to move into the big leagues, so we better be ready for it. We know what Hedrack did,” he said with a pointed look at Tenaris, “and these Doomdreamers are supposedly worse than him.”

Syll now had enough magical power to sheathe all six party members in his magical protection (100 points stoneskin to all party members for 100 minutes). When he was done, the elf motioned for Sparhawk to open the door.

“Please, O’ Heironeous,” whispered the paladin, “at least let this place to which we now go be real that mine feet can trod upon it and that it shalt not maketh mine poor head spin at the mere thought of it like our campground hath done.”

And with that, Sparhawk opened the door, which was unlocked and slid outward easily.

Beyond the door was a scene that looked like it might have been from Hell itself. The interior of the island in the middle of Mount Stalagos was a dry, cracked yard of uneven volcanic rock concealed by fingers of sulfurous mist that limited visibility to a few dozen feet. A hot, dry stench filled the air, burning inside the noses and mouths of the party members. At the center of this area, pounded down into a wound in the earth like a spike pounded into flesh, stood a black tower glistening with a dull sheen of iron. The oerth seemed to recoil from the touch of this strange structure, so it was surrounded by a gaping trench that looked like a wound in the surface of the ground. The black walls of the tower plunged downward, through the wound in the oerth, and out of sight. Cracks, exposing red, hellish light from below, started at the wound and criss-crossed the yard. No windows existed on the tower and no door was visible, at least from the eastern side of the tower where the party stood.

“Stay sharp and watch for those wights,” cautioned Tenaris as Sparhawk and Thrommel moved out into the wasteland, followed by Syll and Luger and then Vister and herself.

When the party members looked up at the parts of the outer perimeter of the wasteland that were visible, they could see that the walls rose up at least two hundred feet, which was very high, but still at least a hundred feet less than the total height of the tower at the center of the area.

[Sparhawk using detect evil ability]

As the party moved north around the tower in a counter-clockwise direction, Sparhawk could sense a large number of strong evil presences approaching the party from the north. As the sulfurous mists ahead cleared slightly, no less than eight running, leaping, crawling undead appeared amidst the rocks and fissures. All wore tattered black clothing and black breastplates and had milky white skin. Someone had tattooed an inverted ziggurat onto each of the creature’s foreheads.

[Initiative: Luger: 20, Vister: 17, Syll: 14, Sparhawk: 12, Wights: 11, Thrommel: 11, Tenaris: 10]

Seeing the undead creatures, Luger immediately raised his lightning bolt holy symbol.

“Go back from whence you came and bother us no more!” he yelled (Turn Undead Check: 14+0=14; Luger can turn undead up to 12 HD. Turning Damage: 6+11=17 HD turned).

At Luger’s words, two of the wights turned and fled. The other six continued towards the party. A second later, Vister did as Luger had done. This time three more of the wights turned and ran off, disappearing into the smoke and behind rocky outcroppings.

“In the names of Heironeous and Caladbolg, I order you to withdraw!” yelled Sparhawk (Turn Undead Check: 13+3=16; Sparhawk can turn undead up to 8 HD. Turning Damage: 11+9=20 HD turned).

Of the three remaining wights, two turned and ran. The single remaining creature did not flee, but neither did it attack. Instead it scrambled up atop a large boulder and then began making a sort of howling sound. Moments later, its howls were answered by similar sounds from both the west and the south.

“Uh, unless you guys can get rid of a whole lot more of those things,” said Syll, “I think we better get a move on before we’re up to our necks in undead!”

With more and more howls coming from all directions now, the party members began running north and west around the tower as quickly as they dared go while skirting around the cracks and fissures that surrounded it. Shadowy movements in the smoke suggested that more and more wights were gathering, but other than the one that had climbed the rock and howled for the others, none were clearly visible. That last wight from the group that had challenged the party loped on all fours behind the party now, staying just close enough to keep the group in sight while pausing periodically to continue howling for its fellows.

When the party finally rounded the northern side of the black tower, a bridge leading over the fissures that surrounded it finally became visible. The 10 foot-wide metal bridge crossed over the wound in the oerth that surrounded the tower and led up to a single metal door. With over a dozen wights visible all around the party now, and more gathering all the time, the small group rushed across the bridge and up to the door. Thrommel, Vister, and Sparhawk took up positions at the end of the bridge, while Tenaris, Syll, and Luger rushed right up to the door.

While running, Luger had already begun to combine the two Earth Temple and two Fire Temple keys into a single ‘Master Key’. When he reached the door, Luger touched the Master Key against its surface. A moment later, the door swung inward.

By the time this had been accomplished, nearly twenty wights were advancing towards Thrommel, Vister, and Sparhawk from three different directions.

“Come on!” yelled Syll from the door. “The way is open! Go! Go! Go!”

Tenaris was through the door first, followed by Syll and Luger and then Thrommel, Vister, and Sparhawk. By the time Sparhawk ran through the doorway, multiple wights were already on the bridge, so as soon as he was through, Tenaris slammed the door shut behind him.

When the door boomed shut, the party members found themselves in a high round chamber a hundred feet across. The chamber was lit by an ambient light, the source of which was not obvious. The light played off a multicolored stone set into the ceiling, 10 feet across and extending five feet down into the room—the ceiling was at least 30 feet above the floor. The stone above was a weird mineral—unlike any from this world. Long, metal supports radiated like the spokes of a wheel across the ceiling, with the rock as the hub. The supports connected to even thicker supports on the walls. These supports appeared to be made from adamantine.

A wrought-iron staircase climbed up the western portion of the tower, up to the level above. The floor of the room, which was irregular and rocky ground, had some old, reddish-brown splatter stains in many places, and here and there a bit of bone could be seen. But all of those things received at most the cursory notice of the party, for there were two items that required much more immediate attention, a pair of massive, winged, reptilian creatures that loped towards the party from across the chamber on their hind legs, throwing their heads back to emit roars that echoed off the round walls of the chamber.

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 89:

Please send postings for Turn 89 by the end of Friday, March 28th.

Current date/time/location: 24 Kolovoz; approximately 0900; The Inner Fane of the Temple of All Consumption

Items gained this turn and not yet divided: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: 1 bottle of cheap red wine, Luger’s Hold Person and Harm from scrolls, 1 use of Syll’s incense of revealing

FOES DEFEATED:

Active party members listed in green.

This Chapter:

Character	Foes Defeated	Percent of Total	Most Powerful Defeated
Syll	8/36	22%	Arrowhawk (CR5)
Luger	8/36	22%	Vampire (CR14 )
Tenaris	5/36	14%	Hedrack (CR14)
Sparhawk	10/36	28%	Hedrack Guard (CR9)
Danton	2/36	6%	Sparhawk (CR8)
Thrommel	3/36	8%	Annis Hag (CR9)
Vister	0/36	0%	None

Entire Campaign:

Character	Foes Defeated	Percent of Total	Most Powerful Defeated
Syll	121/541	22%	Sonic Reptile (CR7 )
Luger	81/541	15%	Vampire (CR14)
Danton	34/541	6%	Salamander Blackguard (CR9)
Tenaris	28/541	5%	Hedrack (CR14)
Sparhawk	26/541	4%	Hedrack Guard (CR9)
Thrommel	3/541	0%	Annis Hag (CR9)
Vister	0/541	0%	None
Nanoc	112/541	21%	Oamarthis (CR7)
Telemachos	51/541	10%	Spellcaster in Inn (CR7)
Aseneth	34/541	6%	Mind Flayer (CR8)
Mauser	23/541	4%	Shadow (CR3)
Karzak	14/541	3%	Troglodyte Cleric (CR6)
Erky	6/541	1%	Twig Blight (CR1/3)
Xaod	5/541	1%	Chatrilon Unosh (CR6)
Spugnoir	1/541	0%	Grell (CR5)

Current Status of the Party:

Luger (100 points stoneskin)

AC: 22

Hit Points: 99/99

New XP: 1800

XP total: 60,099

XP needed: 66,000

Equipment: masterwork heavy mace, chainmail +1, masterwork large steel shield, light crossbow, 13 bolts, 3 belt pouches, large bag, 50’ rope, flint & steel, 24 days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 3 healer’s kits, backpack, cleric’s vestment, traveler’s clothing, 3 waterskins, bedroll, iron triangle with upside down ‘Y’ inside, eight cockatrice feathers, scroll of cure disease, Geistblatt (ghost touch longsword +1), 4 vials of Furyondian Fire, cloak of resistance +1 (+1 to all saves), potions of reduce, nondetection, 2 silver and 2 gold brooches from Woodstock, tattered black cloak with burning eye emblazoned on it, note from Master Hedrack to Master Uskathoth (in Draconic), one large triangular metal bar and one large diamond shaped metal bar, 2 emerald endants, book on history and worship of Elder Elemental Eye cult, one inverted Y pendant in brown triangles, scroll with protection from elements, Oamarthis note, 3 books: The Worship of the Elder Elemental Eye, A History of Evil Cults, and The Temple of Elemental Evil, Aseneth’s House Torquann dragon ring, ring of jumping (+30 to jumping checks), 1 iron triangle with inverted ‘Y’, three black cones made of some unknown substance, a black scepter decorated with a half dozen violet gems, metal scroll tube, one inverted ziggurat pendant; scrolls of contagion, greater magic weapon, bracers of health +2, scroll of bless, and dispel magic, 2 pink pearls, large steel shield +1, scroll with neutralize poison, purple lamp (everburning torch), morningstar +1, scroll with two Cure Serious Wounds spells, one Neutralize Poison spell, one Remove Disease spell, and one Remove Curse spell, scroll with Heal, one refuge stick, 8 iron triangles with upside down ‘Y’ inside,1 inverted ‘Y” pendant in a brown triangle, Journal of Geynor Ton, a folded piece of parchment with a note addressed to someone named Festrath, spider pendant, letter to Master Dunrat, ochre-colored robe, six sticks of incense of revealing, tattered dwarven book, nine inverted Y pendants with blue-green squares behind them, 3 iron keys from Fire Temple forces, inverted y pendant with red diamond background, map of Fire Temple area, letter from Hedrack to Tessimon, healing elixir from the fungal forest man, 2 dwarven scrolls found on the balcony over the dark lake, Fachish’s papers, letter from Hedrack to Terrenygit, Naquent letter to Dunrat, key to Varachan’s quarters, Purple Robe of Tharizdun, Lesser Tentacle Rod, Periapt of Wisdom +2, Tome of Understanding +1, Scroll with Heal, journal of Hedrack, tharizdun holy symbol, ochre robe, scroll with cure light wounds, divine favor, and locate object

Spell Selection

Level 0 (6): Detect Magic (x3), Light (x3)

Level 1 (7+1): Bless (X2), Detect Evil (x2), Comprehend Languages (x1), Command (x2), Protection from Evil (Domain)

Level 2 (5+1): Endurance (x1), Bull’s Strength (x2), Sound Burst (x2), Aid (Domain)

Level 3 (5+1): Searing Light (x4), Dispel Magic (x1), Magic Vestment (Domain)

Level 4 (4+1): Sending (x1), Restoration (x1), Greater Magic Weapon (x1), Divine Power (x1), Holy Smite (Domain as 11th level)

Level 5 (3+1): Raise Dead (x1), Flame Strike (x1), Spell Resistance (x1), Flame Strike (Domain)

Level 6 (1+1): Heal (x1), Blade Barrier (Domain)

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 7 of 7

Gold: 468

Silver: 0

Syll (100 points stoneskin)

AC: 20 (21 versus one opponent)

Hit Points: 63/63

New XP: 2550

XP total: 48,618

XP needed: 55,000

Equipment: Cloak of Resistance +1, Urrtarr’s spellbook, Masterwork Longsword, backpack, 3 water skins, 24 days rations, bedroll, magnifying glass, 2 flint & steel, 10 candles, map/scroll case, parchment, ink & pen, mirror, oil flask, 40 arrows, clothing, longbow, 1 dagger, sack, 50’ rope, chalk, 5 torches, storm whistle, 5 bells, gold brooch, lamp, black cloak, inverted Y pendant, rose quartz gem, ring of climbing, bracers of health +2, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, scrolls of Pyrotechnics, Protection from Fire, Animal messenger, Summon Monster II, Change self, Enlarge, Sleep X2, Wand of Monster Summon I (8 charges), potion of water breathing, potion of lesser restoration, wand of fireballs (12 charges; caster level 6), potion of protection from elements (fire), potion of cure moderate wounds, 2 pink pearls, eyes of the eagle (+5 to all spot checks), scrolls of blink and shield, wand of detect magic (14 charges), potion of cure moderate wounds, one refuge stick, studded leather armor +1 (not worn), Everburning Torch, potion of love, bracers of armor +1 (not worn), potion of hiding, potion of cure light wounds, Vacuous Grimoire, Amulet of Natural Armor +2, Scroll with True Seeing, Contact Medallion, two lilac-colored masks, ochre robe, Purple Robe of Tharizdun, Torch of Revealing, Black Thurible, 7 pieces of Incense of Revealing, Orb of Silvery Death, +2 leather armor of silent moves (not worn), rings of force armor, rod of force, Ukemil’s iron key, inverted ziggurat pendant

Spells per level per day:

Level 0: (6) 0 used

Level 1: (7) 0 used

Level 2: (7) 0 used

Level 3: (7) 0 used

Level 4: (6) 6 used

Level 5: (3) 0 used

Rod of Force uses left today: 5

Gold: 3757

Silver: 42

Sparhawk (100 points stoneskin)

AC: 20 (23 when using longsword/shield combination instead of great sword))

Hit Points: 74/74

New XP: 1800

XP total: 34,273

XP needed: 36,000

Equipment: backpack, water skin, 24 days rations, bedroll, tent, 2 daggers, longsword, composite longbow, 1 quiver with 10 arrows, ink & inkpen, 50’ silk rope, whetstone, 1 vial holy water, masterwork large steel shield, 2 candles, signet ring and sealing wax, gilded warhorn, chalk, 2 mirrors, flint & steel, 5 pitons, 20 pieces parchment, 2 empty sacks, silver holy symbol of Heironeous, Everburning Torch, black cloak, inverted Y pendant, gauntlets of dexterity +2, pearl from the Dark Lake, gold-inlaid black urn, Tessimon’s jewelry box, golden orb set with amber, Book of the Dark Eye, Caladbolg (barbed great sword +1 with special properties), two dark vision potions and one strength enhancing wafer from the fungal forest man, 2 pink pearls, suit of chainmail +1 (not worn), cloak of resistance +1, club +1, 3 Greater Slaying Arrows (humans), one refuge stick, full platemail +1, javelin of lightning, large steel shield +1, ochre robe, Purple Robe of Tharizdun, ring of feather falling

Spell Selection:

Level 1 (2): Cure Light WoundsX2

Level 2 (1): Remove Paralysis

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 6 of 6

Lay on Hands healing points left on current day: 24 of 24

Smite Evil used today?:No

Gold: 353

Silver: 0

Tenaris (100 points stoneskin)

AC: 24

Hit Points: 86/86

New XP: 1800

XP total: 41,728

XP needed: 45,000

Equipment: longsword, chitin full plate mail, large steel shield, masterwork morningstar, 4 javelins, inverted Y pendant, 24 days rations, potions of cat’s grace, spider climb, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, cloak of resistance +1, black robe, Bracers of Kord (strength) +2, pearl from the Dark Lake, short sword +1, large steel shield +1, two strength enhancing wafers and one healing elixir from the fungal forest man, Masterwork longsword, Maicarya (flaming short sword +1), 2 pink pearls, longsword +1, golden dagger, golden necklace, 2 vials Furyondian fire oil, slippers of spider climbing, one refuge stick, potions of haste, bull’s strength, and heroism, Rat’s Tail (rapier +1), boots of elvenkind, a dozen vials of lantern oil, masterwork thieves’ tools, silver and gold brooches, pouch of unknown dried herbs taken from the home of Tal Chamish, emerald pendant, a small ebony troglodyte statuette, a curved dagger, an emerald pendant, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, pearl from the Dark Lake, masterwork dagger, sack of random bits of metal intended to be used as chess pieces, 3 bottles cheap red wine, 2 pink pearls, 200’ silk rope, Rapier +1, buckler +1, suits of elven chainmail +1 (not worn), cloak of elvenkind (not worn), Potion of Lesser Restoration, Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds, ochre robe, Purple Robe of Tharizdun, Potion of Cat’s Grace, ring of protection +1

Gold: 1552

Silver: 460

Prince Thrommel (100 points stoneskin)

AC: 21 (22 versus one foe)

Hit Points: 121/121

New XP: 1800

XP total: 58,590

XP needed: 66,000

Equipment: breastplate +1, boots of striding and springing, dagger +2, gold belt, ring of protection +1, ring of counterspells, ring, amulet, necklace of Furyondian royal family, holy symbol of Tharizdun, Justice (masterwork greatsword) cloak of resistance +1, bracers of armor +1, masterwork light crossbow, 29 bolts, ochre robe, Purple Robe of Tharizdun, Maicarya (flaming short sword +1)

Platinum: 15

Gold: 88

Silver: 0

Vister (100 points stoneskin)

AC: 19 (20 versus one opponent)

Hit Points: 50/50

New XP: 1800

XP total: 23,700

XP needed: 28,000

Equipment: Elven chainmail +1, Rapier +1, Buckler +1, Cloak of Elvenkind, gauntlets of Kord, ochre robe, short sword +1

Spell Selection:

Level 1 (2): Cure Light WoundsX2

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 5 of 5

Lay on Hands healing points left on current day: 14 of 14

Smite Evil used today?: No

Gold: 20

Silver: 0

Vister

AC: 19 (20 versus one opponent)

Hit Points: 36/50 (all damage is subdual damage due to cold)

New XP: 900

XP total: 21,900

XP needed: 28,000

Equipment: Elven chainmail +1, Rapier +1, Buckler +1, Cloak of Elvenkind, gauntlets of Kord, ochre robe

Spell Selection:

Level 1 (2): Cure Light WoundsX2

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 5 of 5

Lay on Hands healing points left on current day: 14 of 14

Smite Evil used today?: No

Gold: 0

Silver: 0