Adventure Reports

In the ongoing quest for information, those travelling through the lands of Khaldred are expected to make note of anything of particular interest upon their travels and report said findings upon their return - should they manage to do so!

## (07/02/21)

Expedition Members:

* Motley
* Rhem
* Ruttgrub

Finding themselves within the new settlement, the three adventurers - certainly more curious than most - make their initial introductions. With the promise of 75gp per four miles travelled, Ruttgrub rustling up some snacks - stealing an unclean cooking pot before departing northwest under the lead of the Wizard Rhem. On a pleasant day, they start their travels, only to be interrupted by a dwarf falling some thousand feet and crumpling violently before them. Motley investigations, finding little of value save a curious tattoo of an insignia depicting a Citadel. Ruttgrub tries to preserve the skin, failing to do, so Rhem sketches it within its book. They watch the cloud, which seems to be moving by its own volition in the opposite direction to the surrounding clouds, before setting off once more. Skirting around the edge of the mountains, they make camp and sleep through the night, taking turns at watches.

The following day takes them through the hills, initially uneventfully but come later afternoon as they travel through a large valley they come across a young boy and man leading a bear and a small force of skeletons and zombies. Motley summons her puppet as the bear runs towards her, and Rhem demands an end to the chaos before it has even begun. With no signs of resolution, he paralyses the bear with a dart of sickly green magic and Ruttgrub summons the powers of Rakkatta the Plaguebearer and shrouds himself in darkness. Motley's puppet stands its ground, Rhem attempts to bite a skeleton but misses due to the darkness. Ruttgrub, capable of seeing through the darkness kills the son with a trio of magic missiles, angering his father who nearly kills the skaven. Motley scares the bear briefly away with *Dissonant Whispers* but it soon comes running after her once more. Dancing in and out of the darkness, Rhem and Ruttgrub continue to contend with the undead, Ruttgrub killing both a skeleton and the bear with a twinned *Chill Touch*. Rhem rushes for the corpse of the child, animating him as a zombie warrior to the horror of Motley, who uses her *Hellish Rebuke* to set the father ablaze. Weakened by another flurry of *Magic Missiles* courtesy of Rhem, Ruttgrub claims the final kill - the father - whose undead creatures collapse with his demise. Motley starts to repair her puppet while Rhem searches the father's body - finding a small coinpurse and an onyx necklace depicting a half-woman, half-spider.

They rest.

Come nightfall, Ruttgrub examines the sleeping Rhem and his pointed fangs, thinking little of them. In the night, he is gifted with vision from the Plaguebearer, who declares that he has done well thus far but should be careful of his companions and not trust them too deeply. Motley's watch is uneventful and the tiefling shortly finds herself deep in a pleasant dream. Hungering, Rhem studies her for a moment before moving to consume her dream - plunging her into a deep and terrifying nightmare and sating his growing appetite.

Continuing down the valley the following morning, the trio comes across a pair of black dragon wyrmlings feasting on a couple of bodies. Despite initial efforts to slink by, Ruttgrub's stench gives away their position and so battle ensues. A few breath weapons whittle away at the party, and when Rhem tries to retaliate he is knocked unconscious. Rhem is rescued courtesy of a healing potion mixed with human blood, only to be knocked down again by the wyrmling's bite. Motley heals him up again, only to be attacked too, falling unconscious, but manages to kill her assaulter with her *Hellish Rebuke*. She is healed by Ruttgrub, but in the meanwhile the other wyrmling steals the disconnected puppet, flying off into the distance. Rhem drinks deeply from the dying dragon, killing it finally, and the butchering begins. Rhem takes a few scales, Motley harvests some bones to start the process of making a new puppet, and Ruttgrub takes the tail, lacing it over his own, and strapping the dragon's horns against his own skull helmet to try and depict the Plaguebearer more plainly. Disaster strikes when he tries to claim some of the acid within, spilling it violently over his arm and nearly killing him. In the meanwhile, Rhem inspects the bodies, a gnome and a human, finding them pilled in an improvised nest containing a petrified dragon's egg.

They get the feeling that the wyrmlings did not make the nest so quickly move on, resting further along in the desolate valley beyond. Shortly afterwards, they encounter an elderly gentleman that inquiries into their journey so far. He promises to offer a gift to the party, which Motley reluctantly accepts - surely hoping it would be another puppet. When he tries to bite her, Motley shrugs off "the gift of Malar", seemingly the only person in the party that the gentleman suspects will be able to accept it. He explains he is travelling the Prince's Pass through the Drakethorn mountains from the territory of a city called Val Royaex to the west. To the northwest, is the Empire, to the northeast the domain of the Witch-King he warns them of danger, before continuing on his way. Rhem takes a look at the wound afflicted, but cannot work out what the man tried to do, so they push on, eventually coming to make camp once more.

Come Motley's watch, the man returns in his werewolf form and tries to impress the gift upon the tiefling once more. After trying to get him to leave, she animates her recently finished puppet and screams for help from Rhem and Ruttgrub - but both sleep through the cries, at least initially. She uses *Hideous Laughter* to incapacitate the lycanthrope, allowing Rhem to paralyse him with a *Paralytic Missile* and Ruttgrub to restrain him with *Earthen Grasp*. The party takes turns to lay into him, and while he briefly escapes he is quickly restrained by the grasp once again and slain by Rhem.

The remainder of their travels are uneventful, and after a while they arrive at the ruins of Dur-Karak, finding an exacerbated archeologist called Xander Everglow who reports the ruins are somewhere between one-thousand and two-thousand years old - at the start of the Third Age in a time of calamity.

The inscription reads "To keep this, you must first give it to me," stumping the group briefly before Rhem works it out - "my word".

With the doors opening, they push on inwards and find the tunnels collapsed in. A voice calls out in the dark, inviting them to dinner, and the party decides to oblige. Rhem starts to walk along the walls, so Ruttgrub scurries after him before spotting a red gemstone within a narrow crevice. After trying and failing to retrieve it, they push on and find themselves face-to-face with a Xvart and a Giant Spider that offer them the gold in the tunnels for a humanoid to feast on. Rhem and Ruttgrub suggest the archeologist outside and guide him into an ambush. In reward, the xvart offers up treasures and books and tasks them with finding a way to further excavate the city - supposedly filled with monsters, demons and devils - seemingly in himself a worshipper of both the Plaguebearer and another god - same as those discovered on the body of the necromancer previously encountered, an onyx necklace depicting a half-woman, half-spider.

## (14/02/21)

Expedition Members:

* Akuma †
* Ebrus
* Micah
* Motley
* Rhem
* Ruttgrub

With new adventurers aplenty, introductions are made between the disparate exploration party. Before departing, they meet a child by the name of Clarissa who is looking for her father Xander - an archeologist that has been missing for a month or so. Learning they are searching for a pair of dwarves, an elf with an polished oaken bow and a dragonborn in the missing expedition party, they set forth. With the Cleric Micah leading the way, the morning proves relatively uneventful before they hear a group of four ogres sharing riddles between them. Akuma transforms his appearance into that of an Oni to try and blag his way past the ogres as they argue about the way home to their boss. When Micah stumbles over his own feet it garners their attention, plunging the party into combat. The martial members rush in close, dealing a few strikes of their own before the heavy strikes of the ogre knock down Akuma. Micah heals him back once more, with Ziore, Ebrus and Melody's puppet dealling continued damage. Akuma leaps to his feet, cleaving one of the ogre's hands - which in combination with the Leonin's Daunting Roar sends the surviving ogres into flight. The party gives no quarter, with Ziore cutting down the one surrendering, and a *Chaos Bolt* and *Guiding Bolt* chasing after the others.

Micah and Akuma examines the bodies, searching for signs of the adventurers but finding little. The ogres bear tattooes of Koros but possess little else, so after a short while (pending Ruttgrub collecting some faces for Micah following his comments about defacing corpses earlier) they continue until nightfall. Akuma takes first watch, searching all the while for tea ingredients but finding none. Ziore and Ruttgrub share a meal while spying distant fire-lights, Motley contemplates the loss of her puppet, leaving Micah to take the last watch while writing a letter to his children. He spies a tree that rises higher than others that catches his attention and so suggests that they swing by it on the way back from the campfires. They find a trio of bodies hanging - two skavens and a human, all laden with disease and so the holier members of the party insist on burying them, to the lamentation of Ruttgrub who suspects it to be an offering to the Horned God. Shortly afterwards they seem to come across another group of the same organisation who seem mightily unimpressed at Micah's religious choices. Arcane strikes and physical blades clash aplenty, with Ziore and Ebrus diving into the thick of combat with the others providing ranged support. The subsequent battle is largely one-sided, with another seemingly hostile patrol quickly dealt with, save for a singular thug that declares the fight had to be "because Koros demands it". Under the intimidating glare of Akuma, they admit that they have taken the adventurers south, past the Grove of the Everqueen and hold them within a camp of sorts - most likely that which was spied by Ziore the night before. Akuma offers the thug a mercy of a quick death and they set off south and promptly find themselves in combat once more. Furred creatures stalk them from the treetops before dropping in an attempted ambush, thwarted by both Micah and Ruttgrub spotting them. Ziore, Akuma and Motley's puppet engages one of the beasts, Ruttgrub binds another in place with an *Earthen Grasp* to allow Ebrus to bring down his Warhammer hard with divine fury. A third beast leaps from the shadows, catching the skaven offguard, prompting Micah to rush to his aid. Ruttgrub paralyses the Displacer Beast and walks away after suffering a grevious wound, prompting many of the other party members to lay into the creature. They claim the hides, tentacles and paws and make camp shortly afterwards.

Sharing an ogre steak (sans mealworms for Ziore), the Leonin and Skaven hear revelry in the distance but when it grows no closer pay little mind for the time-being. During Micah's watch he finds himself drawn to the Everqueen's Grove but simultaneously dismissed, reprimanded for a recent action. Ebrus' watch is interrupted by the arrival of Inquisitor Pontius Maximus who initially shows hostility to Ruttgrub before being at least somewhat talked around. He declares their quest against the orcs to the south a fair one and offers payment for each head. Discussions of faith, civilisation and sentience raise tensions somewhat before the Inquisitor travels onwards.

Come the morning, they are approached by a Half-Black Dragon Veteran and an elven mage called Elunedai, the pair seemingly hunting for Ruttgrub. The elf catches Ziore, Akuma and Micah in an *Ice Storm*, Ruttgrub casts *Darkness* again, only to be struck by a *Fireball* directly centred at his sphere of gloom. As Elunedai puts distance between her and the party, the adventurers close in on her companion as they lie prone. When the half-dragon veteran gets back up he covers Akuma and Ziore in acid, knocking them down - a fate quickly shared by Ruttgrub and Motley when another *Fireball* is tossed their way. Ebrus heals Ziore, who promptly tears the half-dragon asunder with a necrotic surge of *Wild Magic* when he rages, before closing the space with the sorceress. Backed into a corner, she casts *Cone of Cold*, flooring all the party save Ebrus - who then heals Ruttgrub. Ruttgrub uses his *Quickened Spell* to finish her off with a *Magic Missile*, before attempting to heal both Motley and Akuma - seemingly finding success with the former (in reality a *Healing Word* courtesy of Micah). During a short rest, Micah searches the bodies, finding a staff, gold, a well-crafted longsword and a five-headed dragon necklace. Micah confronts Ruttgrub, refusing to give him a share of loot. Ruttgrub throws ground peppercorns into his eyes, stealing the staff and ending the altercation.

They rest. Motley makes a new puppet, Ruttgrub redesigns his newly-acquired staff into an approximation of the Horned God, they nurse their wounds.

The following day the make their way to camp and after a brief attempt to bluff their way in with Akuma disguised as Elunedai, the Sorceress of Morathi they had encountered the day prior, they try and enter through force. Akuma teleports up the tower, only to tumble out of unconscious, his disguise dropped. Ziore, now able to toss and resummon his glaive through his *Wild Magic* rushes in, closely followed by Micah who spies a group of battered looking adventurers - their supposedly quarry. Ebrus casts *Bless*, but nonetheless the party is unable to prevent an orc cleaving Akuma's head free from his body - revealing his true Oni form.

Ziore's *Daunting Roar* frightens many of the ruffians, and while they manage to kill a few of the foes, things seem to slipping away from the party, particularly as the fear of Ziore fades. Micah heals up the Leonin, darting between the bandits. With Motley's puppet tanking much of the assault, the martial members of the party rush in to meet the vagabonds in the main gateway into the camp, allowing the construct to cut up one of the thugs. Ebrus smites the captain, Ziore, swaying violently from side-to-side from his wound, follows up the strike with a vicious cleaving swing. Ruttgrub *Grovels, Cowers & Begs* in the dirt, distracting the Red Fist Captain enough for Ziore to decapitate her with his glaive. While the rest of the party finishes the last of the defenders, Ruttgrub goes chasing after the fleeing scout, catching them with his *Magic Missiles*. They free the surviving adventurer, the others long-dead, and clear out the encampment.

## (07/03/21)

Expedition Members:

* Ebrus †
* Micah †
* Motley †
* Ruttgrub
* Zephyros †
* Ziore †

With a newly constructed temple to Sune in town, the adventurers set forth on a late summer morn, bound south. Skirting the coast, they spy the Isle of the Divine briefly before continuing through the day. Come early afternoon, they come across a martial adept in a meditative pose - awaiting a worthy opponent. Ziore declines, but Micah is more than happy to test his mettle. Micah tries initially to be evasive, but he is outmatched in movement speed, being knocked prone, stunned and quickly beaten into submission - a response to his casting of spells during a martial duel. Ziore, paying Ruttgrub for his lost bet, and goes to heal up Micah. Come nightfall, the party takes watches as usual. Deep in the dark, ravens caw throughout Motley's watch, beckoning her forth. A swarm descends as she follows, and she wakes screaming. Only Ziore awakens, but neither of them can see anything in the gloom to the north. Come morning, a new adventurer arrives from the very same direction. Zephyros makes introductions, agreeing to join them on their trip.

They continue along the coast, encountering a trio of religious types, espouting worship of Asmodeus and seeking the tree-based shrine to the Everqueen. Alunkharno the Priest and his pair of companions join them on the trip south, reaching a strange mist at the edge of the forest collected in discrete parcels of undead presence. They swarm towards Micah, starting to drain the lifeforce from the cleric. The party rushes to his aid, quickly turning the tide and sending the Vampiric Mists scattering, but not before they weaken several of the more martial characters. Unwilling to let them escape, the party dissipate each in turn, with Motley's puppet taking the final victory. Later the party runs into Inquisitor Pontius Maximus again, Micah collecting the bounty on some ogre heads but conflict brews when the Inquisitor spies their newfound companions - declaring them followers of the Archtraitor. He draws his great mace and surges forth. Micah casts *Calm* *Emotions* to defuse the situation, only to change his mind when he learns the cultists intend to burn down the tree. Combat begins once more, Alunkharno shrugging off his robes to reveal scale mail, and Inquisitor Pontius comes running back into the fray. With *Earthen Grasp* holding the outlier in place, the party corrals around Alunkharno and the cultist bandit, with the Inquisitor delivering a killing blow on the unmasked cambion priest - naturally burning into ash with his demise. When one of the cultists is slain by Micah's *Guiding Bolt*, the cambion Alunkharno returns to seemed life to the surprise of most. Using his fiendish charm, he persuades Ebrus into fighting Ziore with the command "Kill your Friends". The party swarms the cambion to try and dissuade the effect, but are picked off one-by-one as the Inquisitor is turned. While the cambion is slain, the charm persists - and soon only Zephyros remains. He is picked out of the air by shortbow and javelin and so the party starts to bleed out - Motley, Micah, Ziore all bleed out, Ebrus has his head caved in by Pontius' mace and Zephyros follows shortly after.

Only Ruttgrub survives, unconscious and streaked with near-mortal injuries, healed up by a passing monk. Collecting up the party's belongings - including Ziore's head, Motley's horns, Ebrus' beard, Micah's face and Zephyros' skin - Ruttgrub makes his way back home and moves into The Place of the Scarlet Rose, dealing with the group of five acolytes that refuse to bend to his rule with a fireball centred on himself.

## (18/04/21)

Expedition Members:

* Argan
* Clarissa Everglow
* Juoppu †
* Keljor
* Ruttgrub
* Tana
* Terra

Joining later:

* Drake Roberts

The new arrivals make their introductions - an standoffish owlfolk, a clearly racist Imperial, a seven-inch fairy, the traumatised Clarissa, a suave and bearded bladesinger and his dog and a crustacean-obsessed turtlefolk. Ruttgrub makes his introductions, offering a suspicious looking potion of healing to Keljor - who reluctantly accepts. With Clarissa leading the way, they make steady progress along the coastline before reaching the coniferous forest's edge. Despite the lack of active water supplies, the region is filled with frogs - which Ruttgrub declares to be good eating and collects some up and begins *preparing* them. Terra notices a green blur shifting through the tree line and flies off to investigate. With Argan and Keljor standing guard the party is suddenly attacked by a pair of Banderhobbs that attack those collecting up the amphibians.

Keljor begins his bladesong cleaving with a huming swing, Juoppu tries to strike one of the Banderhobbs, but is then bisected and swallowed in a single bite. Terra takes flight, invoking duplicity, Ruttgrub uses transmutative magic to bind one of the monstrosities in place, aiding Kel to move away after striking again. Clarissa fires a well-placed arrow, Argan slicing wildly with his glaive and Ruttgrub now binding both in place simultaneously. Terra casts Guiding Bolt through her duplicate, but when Argan rushes to try and aid Keljor and Clarissa as one of the Banderhobbs breaks free but is caught up within the grip of its tongue. Tana's Needle Launcher peppers the recently teleported Banderhobb, while Ruttgrub is nearly eaten. The Banderhobb, finding the skaven's shield, goes to flee - and so Keljor rushes in pursuit. The other Banderhobb attempts to ravage Argan but similiarly finds no purchase. With both monstrosities now fleeing, Clarissa shoots down the first, Ruttgrub the second - and so the party gets to looting. From the belly of one they collect a stray cat, half of a turtlefolk and a human, seemingly still alive. Drake Roberts seemed horrified at the ordeal.

They rest.

Pushing on into the forest, Drake spies a mountain lion mummified and desiccated within the treeline - alongside squirrels, rabbits and even an owlbear - but no foe to be seen and so with a sense of caution continue onwards before making camp. Drake seems unaware of his surroundings, having suffered some sense of memory loss but still in possession of his sailor's uniform,an intricately-shaped gold medallion decorated with a woman's head and waves, etched with the message "From your Beloved Tempest", a water-logged compass and some damaged scrolls. Ruttgrub cooks dinner, using wildflowers and banderhobb chunks and the group takes watch. Ruttgrub talks to Ziore's head, Terra steals a button from Drake's coat, Clarissa notices a raven watching her in the dark - but Keljor fails to spy the bird while he works on his tome of monsters. Clarissa's primeval awareness establishes the birds are not aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends or undead, but seem to be bouncing between the branches in reverse. Keljor goes to investigate and when Ruttgrub is roused from his slumber they fly away - dismissing Keljor's attempts to communicate as they only want to talk to "the girl". Clarissa denies all knowledge of the ravens, prompting Keljor to return to his work with the book until the dawn comes.

The morn brings with a chill of a coming storm, but the day proves largely uneventful as they push through the forest forging a path as requested. Argan contemplates the potential origin for Drake, noting that only two ports are in the rough vicinity, but Drake certainly doesn't seem to be of the Empire. Clarissa notices beady red eyes peering out from the shrubbery. Ruttgrub parleys with the Skaven, persuading them that the rest of the party are his slaves, before offering them food in the form of displacer beast tentacles and paws, some ogre teeth and blood and Ebrus' beard. They warn him of the fog, but the party is yet to come across it by the time they come to make camp once more. During the first watch, Keljor asks Ruttgrub about his people, learning many of their peculiar customs, and then during the second does the same for Argan and the Empire. Drake wakes from a nightmare, trapped within a thunderous storm as it ravages his ship, and alongside Tana finds the forest has grown quieter, and the air thinner. The amnesic sailor starts to fix his compass before returning to bed, and when Clarissa wakes to take her watch she is greeted by danger-warding ravens once more. The bird claims to know about Clarissa's father, prompting her to follow away from the camp. The raven transforms into an austere woman that declares Xander dead - and is willing to offer up the name of those responsible. She warns that The Bogmother approaches, sending Clarissa into flight, stating that further information will be given if Clarissa dedicates herself to the Raven Queen. She does not agree to the terms, walking back to the camp to wake the others.

A woman comes stepping from the forest, carrying around her heels a swirling sinister fog. When she stops, the fog continues to roll forth, and further shapes of the individual appear - before disappearing in unison. Argan seems unaffected by the fog's presence, prompting him and the rest of the party to flee. When it reaches the party again it coalesces into a huge tentacle that bludgeons Tana as she hovers in place. A bolt of warpfire sets one of the now paired tentacles ablaze, followed by chaos bolts, giving Tana a chance to flee from their grip. Argan, still within the fog starts to feel the presence of a foreign entity within his thoughts, starting to take control but is able to flee into the dark regardless. As the fog shifts forth a group of six tentacles formed from the mist pull Tana and Ruttgrub in. Ruttgrub burns three of them into ash with a ball of warpfire, nearly destroying two more in the process. Despite it, Tana and Ruttgrub cannot flee, restrained in place by those that remain - before both are destroyed by Terra and Argan respectively. Casting expeditious retreat on himself, offering up 5gp to pay back Ruttgrub as a final offering of thanks to a seemingly fallen ally, before scooping up Clarissa and running. Drake returns to defend those restrained, but is pulled into the mist as further tendrils envelop them. Ruttgrub just about resists a necrotic surge that draws moisture from his form, allowing him to slip free on his next turn - and be blessed with a Sanctuary courtesy of Terra. Tana destroys the tentacle holding her in place, reunited with her healing cannon and flying skyward. Drake struggles against his sinister bindings, dragged deeper in and subjected to the same surge of necrotic energy that slows his movement - and seemingly confines him to his fate. Suddenly, a thunderous strike smites down the tendril holding him in place, a divine intervention in approval of his efforts to return to aid the others, and the party flees en masse.

Ruttgrub parleys with the skaven of the forest once more, Clan Thordeet, and when they push on they are ravaged by a storm of their return as they pass the estuary of the river. Nonetheless, upon their return to Bronzecliff it falters - but the tides grow violent nonetheless.

## (17/7/2021)

Expidition Members:

* Drake Roberts
* Clarissa Everglow
* Argan
* Terra

The party numbered only four as they set off from a camp near Dwarven Ruin. They made little progress before encountering a diseased Hill Giant. They dispatched it with ease, though Drake Roberts did take a rather brutal beating from it. They broke off the explored area, making their way into unknown wilderness. They came upon a valley and continued to the south.

They soon happened upon a puppy, seemingly lost in the woods. After some deliberation of what to do with the dog, it was decided to leave it behind and let the dog decide to follow them or not. Clarissa used her Primeval Awareness, sensing fiends in the area. They made short work to evacuate the area, traveling back towards safer territory. They unfortunately could not evade the Fiends, instead opting to hunker down for the night and keep a sharp eye out.

Terra took first watch, observing the strange behavior of the dog. It passed without incident. Clarissa took second, once again being contacted by the Raven Queen, who passed to the child another word of warning. Clarissa was not amused by this encounter, but took the advice all the same. Argan’s watch was third, chasing his new found pet when it ran from the camp. He quickly found himself face to face with a Lesser Wendigo.

He engaged the beast before retreating back to the camp, waking Clarissa and Terra. Drake proved himself a heavy sleeper. The Wendigo proved a serious enemy, easily deflecting attacks from the three adventurers. Roberts was soon roused, turning the tide of battle in the adventurer’s favor as he and Clarissa surrounded the Wendigo, with Argan backing them up. The creature moved to retreat, but was pursued by Clarissa’s arrows and Argan on foot. The Wendigo soon retreated. The group kept tense for a moment, before discerning it was truly gone. With little choice, they went back to sleep. The dog returned at dawn.

They set out the next morning, encountering a pack of Gnolls. They made short work of them and continued on. Later in the day, as the sun went down, they came upon a roaming patrol - their armor draped with red fists upon the shoulders. They demanded payment in the form of Clarissa as a slave. The party responded in kind with swords and battle. The battle was pitched, as the tide turned back and forth between the slavers and adventurers. In the end, Terra’s Spirit Guardians and Clarissa’s well placed arrow turned the battle in their favor a final time, keeping Drake alive and allowing Roberts to finish off the Bandit Captain.

Fresh out of supplies, and exhausted from their battles. The party accepted they would not make their quarry. After investigating the bodies, they returned to Bronzecliff.

## (25/7/2021)

Expidition Members:

* Argan †
* Clarissa Everglow
* Drake Roberts
* Angrhem Balicor (Rhem), the bearer of the Blackshard Crown
* Ruttgrub Gnatblud
* Terra
* Theodora

With returning and new faces alike, introductions are made at the camp outside the dwarven city before venturing inside the nearby tunnels where a coffin has been recently uncovered. Rhem, seeing new prime sleeping arrangements opens it up, finding Theodora just awakening. Ruttgrub shares a bat with the new arrival, but their introductions are interrupted by The Caretaker who asks if they have brought more food. Ignoring the requests, they continue deeper still into the dwarven city. The tunnels are filled with a deep necromatic aura, but Rhem, the only one that notices, declines to comment - and instead finds it rather homely. Ruttgrub finds a ruby, showing off his *Spider Climb*, which while not as impressive as Rhem's innate talents aid him in recovering a ruby.

They pass through a shattered gateway, and with Drake's *Divine Sense* showing little of note so they press on, finding a pair of tunnels - one collapsed in, the other dug through. They find beyond an entranceway to the city, moving into an armoury beyond. Searching the room, Drake finds the components necessary to make a flintlock pistol, finding the construction familiar, but without context. A sigil depicting a ram's crest and dwarven script that Clarissa translates as "Clan Skaven Bane". The room beyond appears to be the true entranceway, its pathway blocked, a vast auditorium adjoined. Drake goes off exploring by himself, finding further pistol pieces while the others are attacked by ghosts, a revenant and a cave bear. Argan rushes in, pummeling the Revenant and pushing it back, while Terra grants her blessing to Ruttgrub, Theodora and herself. A ghost, phasing between the Material Plane and the Border Ethereal does much to gather their attention but their incorporeal nature makes them presently impossible to hit. The revenant paralyzes and frightens Argan with its *Vengeful Glare*, setting him up as a prime target for the maruading cave bear. Ruttgrub's twinned *Chaos Bolt* splits off and strikes three targets, although the spontaneously targetted ghost is unaffected by the poisonous infusion. Drake comes rushing to their defence, watching as Clarissa is possessed by the unaffected ghost. Argan is knocked unconscious by the vengeful Revenant. Theodora expels the ghost contained within her, seemingly contained within her psyche for some time. Ruttgrub launches a ball of green warpfire that roasts a ghost, the revenant, cave bear and Argan - seeing his unconscious ally burning half-heartedly throws a potion of healing his way and somehow lands it directly within his mouth, healing him. Argan springs to his feet, laying into the revenant and forcing it back past Theodora but cannot put it down. With both Clarissa and Argan possessed, Rhem targets both the revenant and the girl, while Argan's ghost is expelled from a combination of Theodora's *Thunderwave* and Ruttgrub's *Firebolt*, but the baffling otherworldliness of the situation baffles Drake into indecision and inactivity. Terra, enraged at being targeted by Clarissa turns her ire upon the ranger - who then tries to respond in kind but to little avail. The other ghosts are destroyed, and with confusion Drake heals Argan with his *Lay on Hands* for a single hitpoint, the genasi immediately beating on Clarissa. As she falls unconscious, the last ghost is expelled - and subsequently beaten into nothingness by Theodora's spore stick. Drake heals the fallen adventurers.

They are congratulated by the ghost that inhabited Theodora ponders their path ahead towards the Barrow Lord, who commands the thousands of souls that occupy the city. After resting, Argan, showing interest is then inhabited by the ghost. Drake wanders onwards, bound by his deity that compels exploration, while the others do their own investigations, before finally catching up. A stone bridge reaches across over a partially artificial waterfall, but their focus is instead on the ghostly figure of Xander Everglow examining the architecture, lamenting the two thousand years of construction since destroyed. The ghost does not recognise Clarissa, another point on a long list of personal and mental traumas, and so he continues to chatter about the city and the Barrow Lord. The Lord is in possession of a Soul Shard which tethers the dead to his will and is hidden within his chambers. The key is within the Throne Room, close to the treasure halls that are kept sealed to pay tribute to the Witch-King, as well as in pledge to his Queen Phelob (who he seeks to rise once more).

They leave the ghost be.

Spying a pulsing obelisk in the distance, Terra and Rhem start to close the distance - and so Drake goes diving after them, plunging into the frothing water. After a moment of panic in the swirling liquid, he relaxes, realising that he can breath unimpeded by the flow overhead - a surprise to both him and the party. When they get closer, a hoard of Kruthik spill from the walls. Rhem starts strolling away along the walls, but Drake realises the obelisk is variation on an *Arcane Gate*, allowing for instantaneous travel between the city and Bronzecliff. The monstrosities give chase to Rhem and Drake, laying into the pair, but inadvertently putting themselves in target range for the others waiting on the bridge. Drake leaps up to Terra but slows her when the Hive Lord sprays a stream of acid in their direction. The pair flies free, narrowingly avoiding the path of Ruttgrub's held *Fireball*. Clambering up the wall, the Kruthiks continue their assault of Terra as she tries to fly free, before finally the Hive Lord bathes her in acid. Unconscious, she starts drifting downstream before vanishing into the Ethereal Plane, having cast *Blink* earlier, the confused Kruthiks surrounding her bathed in a twinned set of *Firebolt*. Theodora and Argan run to cut down the Kruthik harassing Rhem, but in the end it is Clarissa with a well-placed arrow that puts it down. Clutching at the body, Rhem tries to hold tight on the monstrosity, before finding the weight too much and dropping it into the water below. Enraged, the Hive Lord comes climbing after them, spraying acid, before retreating once more. Clarissa shoots after it with an arrow that had previously pierced Drake - finding it delivered a burst of lightning energy upon its hit. As the Hive Lord starts to flee, Ruttgrub roasts it from behind, and Terra stabilises as she continues to blink in and out of the Material Plane.

With Rhem feasting on one of the fallen Kruthiks, the party gets to work. Theodora and Ruttgrub harvest rations and monster parts, Argan is guided by the ghost within him to a series of treasures, black star sapphires hidden in alcoves. Guided away from a connection to the Underdark, they find an intricate doorway that supposedly goes into the Barrow Lord's chambers, but are cautioned against such an interruption. They continue exploring, finding a 300gp diamond while Theodora and Ruttgrub feast on the monstrosities, bolstered in flavour by Ruttgrub's Spice Pouch. The treasure hunting group stumbles headlong into the path of the Dwarven King and his soldiers, with Argan succumbing to a deep possession as Darla takes control, her intentions to guide them to their doom so their souls could be harvested now enacted. With Ruttgrub and Theodora still feasting away, a Champion of the Raven Queen appears, casting *Invisibility* on Clarissa who then turns to flee, avoiding the possessed Argan's grasp. Still compelled, Argan instead grapples Rhem, dragging him into the chamber. The undead dwarven king Dorlan Hammerhelm dismisses the offering, declaring that Rhem is instead free to leave as a spawn of the Dark One. In exchange for never returning, Dorlan offers one item of treasure out to him - presenting gemstones, bejewelled idols and scrolls. Rhem selects a sundial, and turns to leave, trying to persuade Argan to leave with him, but fails to do so. Commanded to leave Argan in place, Rhem leaves, and with it Argan is given an ultimatum.

Prove himself as a warrior but defeating the undead King's guards, or otherwise forfeit his soul to the Barrow Lord.

Argan strikes first, attacking the warriors closing in around him. His strikes harry them hard, putting down two in quick succession. HIs life spared in the first instance, his next and final command to renounce the God Emperor and promote Phelob instead. Refusing, he turns to dash free, getting close - before being struck down by a *Finger of Death*.

Meanwhile, Drake Roberts stumbles into a workshop chamber, finding it occupied with wraiths - and fleeing promptly as they start to corporealise. With the rest of the party departed, he too engages with the Obelisk and is transported back to Bronzecliff.

## (19/12/21)

Expedition Members:

* Arja
* Clarissa
* Drake Roberts
* Ruttgrub

Arriving Later:

* Theodora

Responding to the call of an elven contigency led by Ilevar, the party heads south led by Clarissa, aided by Arja. After a discussion and compasses and moss, they are hunted by a Shoosuva, a large white demonic hyena. Hungering and wounded, it ravages Arja, who is paralyzed by the creature's tail stinger. Ruttgrub channels the magic of his god to cover their foe in acid, Aided by the elves pledged to the Everqueen, the party eventually harry the monster sufficiently to force it to flee, despite Clarissa's attempts to understand and tame the Shoosuva. Fearful it would prey on other travellers, Clarissa fires a pair of arrows at the fleeing monster, bringing it down. The body dissolves away into a tar-like goo that Arja moves to investigate. When she tries to collect some of the ichor she drops the vial, and so an elf aids in the process, narrowingly avoiding a horrifying corrupting curse. Arja burns what remains of the corpse, and the party moves on.

Discussing how they came to be in the lands of Khaldred, the party continues on, passing close to the forest to the south of Bronzecliff, where they are spot a small group of undead and orcs. Ilevar reports that they are likely followers of the Witch King, and thus hostile. The party strikes first, but they respond with particular aggression towards Ruttgrub after he throws a warpfire ball at them. The orcs then close the ground to Drake Roberts, who cuts down the first effortlessly. The merrenoloth leader engulfs the battlefield in darkness, prompting the elves to disperse and swing wide, firing arrows at the newfound foes. Arja and Drake work in tandem to strike down a few of the assailants, a trend continued by Clarissa and her bow. With both Ruttgrub and Drake frightened of the yugoloth, Ilevar launches an arrow that nearly floors the fiend, before Arja finally deals the kiling blow with her Thunder Gauntlet. Sweeping across the battlefield Drake finishes the last foe, though they have suffered the loss of one of the elves, despite their attempts to heal them back to life. The elves tend to their own, deciding to burn the dead, while Arja examines the orcs' weapons, made of a red iron alloy.

As the sun seems to be setting, they are met on the road by the Marquis Emmanual von Strahdanasovic, from a charming and beautiful Principality of Val Royeaux to the west. Seeking the journey to Bronzecliff, the party asks after his intentions, particularly after his remark that he travels fastest at night, his elongated canine teeth and that he is a "weapon himself". He reports having travelled from his nearby chateau, hence his otherwise immaculate appearance. He gives them a message to deliver to Jonor Vagroatt, promising them a reward should they attend the parley. He does not deny his vampire heritage, and so the party agrees to allow him to share their camp for the night.

Arja constructs a lean-to shed and chats with the Marquis about his chateau and the surrounding views over the vineyards and nearby river. Clarissa later learns the Marquis had lived for several life times, and now seeks the safety of others, his words seemingly genuine, although seems to be holding something back. The Marquis reveals his fear of the gods, lamenting their habits of playing with the souls of mortals, but reports serving the Sanguine Prince nonetheless. Discussion turns to that of the more evil-inclined entities amongst the main pantheon and those more good or neutral-inclined amongst the so-called malign. Drake spends some time during his watch examining his belongings, continuing to try and learn of his past, recognising the manifest of a ship called the *Gilded Lover*. These efforts catch the eye of the Marquis, who reports that is looking for a captain to aid in creation of trade routes with the surrounding ports for supplies, assets that he is currently severely lacking in. Drake declines the offer, citing the storms that follow him once upon the waves, prompting Emmanuel to examine Drake more closely and remark on his lack of heartbeat, to which Drake demonstrates his seawater for blood. The Marquis speculates that Drake most likely made a deal with Typhine before his apparant demise, citing tales of her seducing sailors and stealing their hearts, sequestering them within the Eye of Typhine, a divine domain hidden far across the sea. As the conversation comes to an end, Emmanuel wishes Drake well, and remarks he hopes to see them soon in Orlais, before turning into a bat and flying away.

Come morning, the party is joined by Theodora and her spider pet Charlie and immediately run into an ettercap upon a sled dragged behind a pair of giant spiders. The ettercap seems to try an attempt to parley for a snack of one of the elf companions, and then after that is shot down by Theodora gestures for Arja instead. The ettercap attempts to buy Arja for 10gp, and when Theodora and Ruttgrub engage in further dialogue, Drake springs into action. Clarissa kills one of the spiders, Drake is restrained in webbing and so Theodora grapples the ettercap, holding them in place. A fireball and further arrows fell all but one tiny spider, shortly after dubbed Carl, which promptly starts to spin a web within Theodora's ringed ear piercing. They harvest meat and poison from the charred remains, before setting off. They pass near to the coast, prompting the rain to fall heavily as predicted, and so the party pushes in land to a nearby forest for shelter. Passing through the woodland, they are ambushed by a pair of lesser wendigos. Though the wendigos tear and claw at the party but are quickly surrounded and slain. The group finds shelter for the night, but are awakened again shortly after Ruttgrub's watch when a black dragon and an abishai demand that they give up the elves.

Ruttgrub responds that they have disturbed his chat with the skull of Ziore, and tosses both a fireball and firebolt their way. The abishai darts into the ball of darkness cast on the shelter, butchering one of the sleeping elves, but revealing their position to Arja. With her Thunder Gauntlet, she strikes down the abishai, leaving the dragon waiting outside. The dragon, offering a particular hatred towards Ruttgrub as it unleashes its breath weapon on the skaven and Drake Roberts. Ruttgrub survives only by means of *Absorb Elements*, while Drake is healed by Clarissa. The surviving elves surround the dragon, alongside both Arja and Drake, while the rest of the party attacks from range. When the dragon tries to flee, it is attacked on all sides, before being finally slain by Theodora, who batters it to the ground. Before breathing its last breath, it remarks that the destroyer of worlds is coming from Ruttgrub, and that it knows its name. They harvest its body before turning back for bed, finding their remainder of their rest unperturbed.

A few days later, they find themselves at the forest's edge, where a pair of orcs await Ilevar. The elf makes introductions for the party, garnering the initial ire of the orc against the humans amonsgt them. Ilevar reassures the orc that they are unlike those of the Empire, mollifying the tension somewhat. Discussion turns to three camps of the Fellhammer, camps to the south in the Hinterlands under the command of Busco the Fat, and that migration away for other orcs is sought. The orcs offer the location of the Key to the High Halls of Lorien to Ilevar in exchange for safe passage through their lands.

Appearing from thin air behind them a group of inquisitors led by Pontius Maximus remark at the lack of invite for themselves. His companion Viera Alphrates demands the two orcs be surrendered to them in chains, or they will kill the entire party. The efforts are made in response to the God-Emperor's conquest of the Orc God, and now the inquisitors seek to eradicate the rest of the orcs, torturing the orc leader Gros Gruhmesh into revealing the remaining camp's location. As the discussion continues to spiral downwards, Clarissa fires the first shot, sparking conflict.

Viera conjures a volley of daggers onto the party, dealing significant damage. Ruttgrub is knocked unconscious with a flurry of crossbow bolts, though immediately healed by Gros channelling divine magic. As the tide starts to turn, the orc chieftess transforms into her true form, that of a young silver dragon, and takes flight to defend the party with her breath weapon. Gros' chest is crumpled in by Inquisitor Pontius, Clarissa and Ruttgrub are knocked unconscious by a *Cone of Cold*. The battle continues on as the pair continue to bleeding out, with Arja trying to focus Pontius' attention on her, but ultimately Viera Alphrates fells both Drake and Theodora with a *Fireball.* Theodora springs to her feet, suddenly reinvigorated, healing herself, but Ruttgrub bleeds out, charred by the flames. As Arja and Drake continue to fight on, Viera takes the body of Gros and uses *Dimension Door* to teleport away, the remaining inquistors following in her stead. Drake steps back, scooping up the body of Ruttgrub and flees off to one side. Pontius is battered by the dragon, throwing down their weapon as a yield.

Ilevar uses *Revivify* on Ruttgrub, who promptly casts *Corrode* on the Inquisitor in response to Pontius' murder of Ziore, the ongoing campaign against skaven across the continent, as well as previous incursions by the imperial against other party members. The silver dragon gives up the location of the Key before departing to the south, with Ilevar warning of the implications for Bronzecliff moving forwards with regard to the efforts of the Empire. Ilevar offers to bind Bronzecliff to that of Ulthuan, under the promise for serving as continued allies.

## (1/23/2022)

**Expedition Members:**

* Ruttgrub Gnatblud
* Arja Stoneheart
* Drake Roberts
* Terra
* Keljor
* Clarissa Everglow

The party sets out from Dur Kurak, hoping to reach the city of Orlais via the river pass. After a fair bit of walking, the party notices a boat on the other side of the river, by a wooden building with no clear signage. After some discussion, Terra casts Water Walk, and the party journeys across the river to investigate the house.

Upon arriving, they find it occupied by an old woman, whom they entreat to borrow her boat. She says that they can do so if they promise to take her into town with them. She asks them to stay the night and offers rosemary stew, which the party accepts. She puts a few special grubs in Ruttgrub's meal. Terra cautions the party not to tell the woman much, which results in a spat between her and Clarissa.

The next morning, the party wakes up, with the woman having mysteriously vanished. Arja, seemingly upset from the previous night's meal, tosses her cookies outside. Keljor decides to leave a note and some money, and the crew takes the boat.

As the party sails across the river, they are beset upon by a horde of skeletons and men clad in bones. Spreading darkness about and trying to attack into the shadows, the creatures seem to particularly target Clarissa. Ruttgrub unleashes a barrage of several warpfire blasts, also bringing forth Nipper: his shadow hound. Arja, Keljor, and Drake leap off the boat and begin to whack the skeletons with the wizard seemingly gaining a confidence he often seemed to lack, as Terra cast at the creatures from above.

When the battle is done, Clarissa finds a bounty on the body of one of the skull knights. The Witch-King has placed a bounty on herself, Drake, Theodora, Rhem, and Terra. The party decides to keep moving so as not to lead bounty hunters back to Bronzecliff.

The party continues through, being stopped by a pair of warforged, who demand a toll. Their claim that there are seven members of the party confuses the adventurers, until Keljor uses his *Detect Magic* to discover that the old woman's stew has placed some sort of parasitic demon baby inside Arja. The curse is promptly dispelled by Terra, and Clarissa pays the warforged's fees. The party decides to name the ship HSS Rose, and decide not to return it.

The party continues to sail, taking shifts through the night until they reach Orlais. Walking through the city, Drake Roberts is visibly upset by the slaves seen throughout the city, pledging to free them. They arrive at the Marquis von Strahdanasovic's Chateu, where they are let inside by his majordomo. Terra introduces herself as "Lady Penelope of Lands Far and Wide."

The Marquis is entertaining guests, fellow vampires known as Aiesha and Duke Volikar. The vampiric nature of these individuals frighten Keljor, causing him to faint into Arja's arms. This sparks a very brief dispute over who should be the one to carry the captain, with Ruttgrub bringing forth Nipper once again and Clarissa suggesting he be left on the floor. This does not appear to impress the Duke's guests.

As Keljor is taken outside to re-cooperate, the Marquis distributes gold to everyone for coming, and makes his proposal. The Emperor's enslavement of the Grand Duke's daughter has led to Val-Royeaux having to bend to the Emperor's will for quite some time. He proposes that if the adventurers are able to rescue the Duke's daughter on their behalf, they will advance in the politics of the Val-Royeaux and the Empire will lose an ally.

To sweeten the deal, he offers noble titles, plots of land and 3,000 gold each to the adventurers if they are able to free her before the Grand Duke himself. The party agrees, although Drake asks that his reward be a ship. The Marquis dismisses everyone to breakfast, telling them to prepare for the adventure to come.

## (2/13/2022)

* Arja Stoneheart
* Runner in the Roots
* Terra
* Clarissa Everglow
* Drake Roberts

The Party, leaving Keljor behind to deal with his anxieties, and with Ruttgrub scurrying away to unknown parts, travelled by land over a few days to the Marquis’ winery to fetch a gift for the ball. They encountered little trouble on the way, bonding over their observations of the slaves’ treatment, the pronunciation of Arja’s name, and the amount of guards they saw the winery.

They encountered a bit of a hiccup with the exterior guards, but made their way inside. They were greeted by very enthusiastic gnome, pedaling the wares of the winery. Arja selected their drink of choice, whilst Terra continued her mummery to gain information and their prize.

The servant returned with wine, sampled by Clarissa, Drake, and Arja. Terra declined, much to the servant’s chagrin. The servant then dropped the drink at Terra’s feet before departing. A vampire then appeared and was rather curt with his questioning. After some answers, the vampire called for their wine and the questions continued.

Finally, before they departed, their vampiric host demanded a blood sacrifice from Drake. The captain complied, slicing his palm to give the host seawater from his very body.

As the group parted, Drake attempted to leave behind a knife for the slaves with which to free themselves. It was kindly rejected and recovered by Arja.

From there it was a simple ride for the next two days, though the party eventually encountered a vampire bringing a chain gain of slaves across a great plain. Quickly, Arja moved without saying a word, attempting to free the slaves. Her plan was haphazard and quickly faltered, the vampire and its thralls becoming hostile towards the party. The rattling of spears was quickly tossed to the side, as Drake made a daring opening move, firing his pistol in to the vampire’s face.

The battle was well fought, but the Vampire’s power was no match for the gimped party. Clarissa and Arja were charmed and Drake beaten near to death and taken prisoner, enslaved. Faced with little option, Terra had to leave their mysterious captain behind.

A half a day later, the trio had a chance encounter with a crew of sailors, whose sigil matched Drake’s. However, the parties lack of charisma barred them from any further talk. Clarissa departed, an off handed mention of the Bitch Queen did earn them some favor in the end.

The girls regrouped, discussing what to do next, debating cutting their losses. They decided to visit The Marcquis, who suggested they hire the muscle - Runner in the Roots.

Shortly after recruiting him, a new Elven woman appeared, demanding the party kill the Grand Duke’s daughter. Clarissa feigned agreement, with the elven woman then revealing Baron Banevatar was the one who kidnapped Drake.

Later on, the quartet attended the party, searching for a way to get into the vaults. A small child by the name of Merry spoke with Clarissa, wondering why a child was attending.

At the dinner, shortly later, Clarissa discovered Merry had taken Motley’s Horn. However, she had little time to do anything as the Grand Duke arrived. Arja, sensing Clarissa’s discomfort, used her magics to steal the horn back.

Meanwhile, Terra went about completing their mission, using her various magics to search the vault for clues. She managed to find quite a bit, including what they needed, barely escaping with her abilities.

The party then took off, heading home.

## (08/01/2023)

* Arja
* Artis
* Gilles
* Kara
* Khaagreshk
* Runner in the Roots
* Ruttgrub
* Xebes

With the two new arrivals - Artis and Khaagreshk - making their introductions, the party discusses the bathhouse to which they are bound, supposedly the haunt of demons. After discussing the taste of demons and soap, the extent of the dysfunction of the group is made plan as they bicker and argue over some very questionable morals, before determining their route ahead through the mountains. Seeing that his new culinary peer Khaagreshk is looking cold, being a cold-blooded creature as Arja leads them throughout the mountains, Ruttgrub gifts him a Vial of Hellish Ichor to press against his scales, and then later summons a Phantom Steed to aid them in their travels. By the end of the second day, the party has reached the base of the mountain, with Arja making camp before planning to ascend come the morning. Arja and Ruttgrub share a watch, talking mainly about the compass made by the former for the latter and how it seems to always magically point the same way, shortly afterwards Kara taking a turn to remain vigilant in the same manner throughout another quiet watch - save for the sound of distant wings passing overhead.

When Artis wakes for his watch, he does so with a memory of a dream, a battle between two armies (one with a two-headed dragon on the banner, the other a castle upon a field of green and orange). During the battle, wielding a huge sword, Artis delivered death, his blade turning them into burnt out husks. Referred to as Callidan, Artis gains the thanks of his Duke, before waking, contemplating the familiarity of the voice although acknowledging it would have been impossible to have occurred recently. In this he finds counsel with Gilles, who has been silently keeping watch with torch in hand, the pair remarking that they both have histories as warriors, but have seemingly lost touch with them.

Come morning, the party finds itself ascending a salt-gritted set of stairs to an ornate and well-kept bathhouse, where they are greeted kindly by the attendant who explains that Mother Okowa will be along shortly to explain their troubles, but in the meanwhile they are invited to enjoy a meal and time in the outside springs. Runner immediately makes a scene by striking his glaive into a toad at the water's edge. To the party's surprise, as he slays the beast, it transforms back into a quasit, the crowd bearing witness twisting into hideous demonic forms. Ruttgrub covers the draegloth in acid, which then goes to attack Arja but cannot find purchase, only to be assailed in return by her Thunder Gauntlet. Khaagreshk slays one quasit with their handaxe before tossing it after the other, while Runner brings their Sandstorm Glaive about to slay another quasit but finds it to be a mighty and evasive foe - and thus worthy of his continued time and effort. While the demons manage to slay several commoners they fail to deal a great deal of damage to the party as both Gilles and Arja draw their attention simultaneously, a distracting and disadvantaging combination. Artis continues the melting of the draegloth with *Chromatic Orb,* while Runner finally finds victory over his Quasit foe after an unintentional feint. With two Dretches restrained in place using *Earthen Grasp*, Xebes sends another *Chromatic Orb* firing across the battlefield to find its mark, and Gilles manoeuvres alongside his horse to assert his dominances as a Mounted Combatant. Khaagreshk finds himself a delicious meal in the form of an Abyssal Chicken as the last of the demons are slain with Runner launching his glaive at the final fiend to bring combat to a dramatic end.

Arja checks on the surviving commonfolk before they promptly flee, no longer stuck into a state of terror. Before the chance for respite comes, the party is approached by Mother Okowa who apologises for their trouble, remarking that her enchantment that previously protected the bathhouse. Artis inquires further, to which she shows them a book, explaining that she uses artifacts and the power of the All-Father to power them. Reportedly, she paid some adventurers to recover such an artifact but they have failed to return from a nearby cave. In the book she shows them an image of their quarry, a necklace with a large red gemstone set at its centre. In return, she offers to pay them each 1000gp, which Runner demands in advance. Near all of the party enjoys a meal that greatly invigorates them, as if they've had a full night's rest. Before departing, the group examines a giant horned skull overlooking the bathhouse, which Arja recognises as demonic in nature - to which Gilles chimes in to remark that during the First Age, there was a great war between devils, demons, celestials and mortals, and thus assumes it is a relic from as such.

The cave is about half a day away, a cold but otherwise uneventful journey thanks to Okowa's tea, inside which they immediately stumble across a huge animalistic skull, picked clean of flesh. Xebes spends some time examining the remains being actively harvested by Gilles, Khaagreshk and Ruttgrub, deciding it is most likely a burrowing monstrosity of some kind, likely the creator of the cave in which they now stand. Noting the bite and claw marks along the edges of the jaw, they warn the party of potential other creatures lying in wait. Squeezing though a narrow passageway, Gilles is forced to leave his horse behind, to which Ruttgrub promises he'll summon him another one as he picks an odd (and totally not poisonous) bright red mushroom. Stumbling across a festering pool of blood, Arja and Ruttgrub try and examine it, finding it to be room temperature and uncoagulated. With the tunnels widening once more, Ruttgrub casts *Phantom Steed* to create a new horse for Gilles as promised, but tries to make it look like the knight, the steed's flesh grey and shiny, like metal. Arja, following a golden glow, stumbles across a cave filled with treasures, including a map of the continent, a javelin of lightning with an abyssal command word and other items. The seemed final room of the cave possesses a glow too, more varied than the one before, with a series of pillars, upon which one lies the amulet. By aligning the pillars so that all the colours match the bluish hue of the cave's interior, they manage to release to amulet, allowing for further examination. While it seems inert, it is identified to be a corrupted shard of the Allfather, as all living creatures are said to be, and thus could be used to create a mighty weapon as a source of power. On the way out, Runner tries to goad Khaagreshk into taking a swim in the blood pool, wondering if it deepens, but is instead thrown in by the lizardfolk. As the group comes to join them, Artis hears Gilles' original horse whinny, so they rush to respond and spy a pair of chimeras prowling into the cave's entrance. The pair of chimeras arc around the entry cave, but are quickly dispatched by the party, with Gilles atop his steed and Nipper serving to distract to allow them to harry them from afar. After a short bout of harvesting that of use, they party hurries back to the bathhouse.

With the amulet in hand, they immediately find that the waters around the bathhouse have started to change, as if being corrupted by its presence - like trials of blood starting to take hold. Mother Okowa does not seem massively surprised, citing it as common effect of a bloodshard, but is unworried because she is going to drain it of its magic. They therefore assume that the pool of blood in the chimera's cave was corrupted in the same manner, and find the contents of their waterskins have likewise changed, in which case Okowa provides them with further tea - Kara, Ruttgrub and Runner seizing up, paralyzed by something dropped in the tea by the receptionist. After using *Lesser Restoration* to aid her allies, Arja goes to confront them, and when they try to charm her she responds with violence.

The party doesn't need any further excuse to follow suit.

Incubus and succubus revealed, the two fiends are sent fleeing into the Ethereal Plane, at which point the party notices Mother Okowa about to step into a ruby red portal, the gateway closing behind her just before they could reach. With further mocking laughter coming from behind them, the party turns to spy the succubus and incubus attempting to flee - and manage to slay the latter. Collecting up what remains of the gold they were promised, they head for home.

## (29/01/2023)

* Xebes
* Artis
* Gilles
* Kara
* Runner-in-the-roots
* Volk
* Arja

The party heads off to rescue Drake Roberts from Baron Jean De Lufeu. They spot a nimbus cloud heading south, on top of it is a castle. Arja recognizes it. Arriving at the Everqueen grove, the druid greets most of the party pretty coldly but lets them stay. The party travells on and gets to a narrow pass with a gate, seemingly bandit fortifications. The party decides to pass through the camp, reasoning if they pose a challange they will be destroyed. They approach the toll gate, occupied by the tribes of the Fellhammer. Arja pays the toll and is handed a writ of passage. The party trecks towards the foot of the mountains, Kara is met with a raven messenger, warning her off the king under the mountain: There is a reason he is the richest one in Khaldred, beware his deals. Kara gave the bird a name and it flew off. Gilles feels a strange kinship with Artis, finding the way he delivers his words familiar. Volk and Gilles notice the sound of large wings beating above. In the morning they get to Dur Barahad and  a set of large gates guarded by dwarves. The party explores the city, taking a chance to browse some goods. The party heads to the mine which is heavily reinforced and guarded. They discuss plans on what to do to spring Drake from the prison, realising that he probably wont leave without springing a rebellion. The party casts invisibility on Pipper and sends him inside the mine to find drake roberts. The party meets the king under the mountain in the throne room. Arja and the king trades pleasantries and the king offers Arja a deal to work for him for a year in exchange for Drake's release. She insists that Drake should be present for the signing of the contract. Drake is brought before the king but he insists that he must stay because there are monsters in the mine. Arja says she will sign after the monsters are dealt with and Drake is ready to leave. The party is led to the mines and are featherfalled down the chasm. By being very loud in calling for Drake the party attracts groups of ghouls and ghasts. Taking up positions in the tight hallways of the mine the party fends them off. Dealing with the undead the party finds Drake deeper inside the mine.