Preamble#

There were webs everywhere, though not in the secret room at (C), where it was spotless, no dust. Gonchar pushed the gray gems into the appropriate openings in the room. There was a slot in each of the four corners. As soon as he slid the 4th gem into place, a yellow, glowing field appeared on the floor along the eastern wall. Immediately, a disembodied voice was heard to say:

“Friend, family or foe?”

Gonchar did not answer. At that very moment an angry looking two-headed troll materialized in the room within the yellow, glowing field. Seeing Gonchar, it attacked.

The Gate In The Secret Room#

• initiative tie
• (speed factor) troll hit Gonchar for 4 points
• Gonchar missed
• initiative win
• at this point the party (some 75’ away) heard Gonchar yelling - it would take 3 melee rounds to reach him
• Gonchar nailed the troll for 31 points of damage
• the troll hit back for 25 points
• initiative loss
• the troll hit for 4 points
• Gonchar hit back for 9 points
• Kyril (fleeter of foot than most) burst into the room
• initiative win
• Gonchar hit for 14 points
• Kyril missed, and so did the troll
• Gonchar hit again for 14 points, again
• the rest of the party burst into the room, as many as could fit
• initiative win
• Lycovyne nailed the troll with magic missiles for 24 points
• two headed troll, 70 hit points

Arkadios poured oil on the troll’s body and we burned it, filling the small room with acrid, disgusting smoke. The party made an effort to save some two-headed troll blood in a wine bottle Gonchar had just expeditiously drained.

When the troll materialized in the room the yellow, glowing field on the floor dissipated and the four gray gems fell from their slots. They were not gems, but large, heavy stones.

We noticed that each of the stones had a spider motif on one side. Drow, eh. Each was far too heavy for all but the strongest of people to carry unencumbered.

Menka cured light wounds twice on Gonchar and then Kyril cured serious wounds on that same dwarf, bringing him up to 54 points. Back in one piece, as it were, we took counsel among ourselves.

The gateway was almost certainly usable by us, possibly to get us to the Road of Lanterns mentioned in our travel instructions (pg. 129), but we weren’t quite ready to make that leap yet. While at the portcullis at (D) the party had seen light under the door at (E). We decided to investigate the source of this light. The key stones were far too heavy to lug around so we left them behind.

Onward, ne’er straight, we sallied forth. Back to the portcullis to the north. We all failed to bend bars and/or lift gates at the portcullis. The jury was out on which check we failed, exactly, yet fail we did.

Examining the room, we noted that the chain had been removed from the gear above the gate, intentionally. That same chain was on the floor in the room. We decided to use the flying carpet to re-attach the chain to the portcullis gear near the 15’ ceiling. Lycovyne and Flint successfully attached both ends of the chain across the gear, closing the loop, making the gate operable.

Returning to the ground and just plain not fucking done with heroism yet, Lycovyne made a strength check and raised the portcullis gate with the newly attached chain.

We fretted over locking the gate in place, so that we wouldn’t get locked on either side after passing through. Some ingenious plan was concocted and executed flawlessly. I have no idea what it was.

We checked out the door with the light glowing beneath it. Flint heard no noises behind the door. He did, however, find a fire trap. Like the one that nearly blew his head off at the end of session 17? Flint removed traps on the door but, funny thing, there’s no way to know with magical traps, really, whether you have succeeded in removing it, or not. Nonplussed, we all chickened out, Flint first. We all backed away from the door, save the druid. Kyril cast protection from fire upon himself and opened the door. It opened quietly, without conflagration.

The door opened into what appeared to be a cell. Brightly, blaringly lit. Reeking of garlic, which was strewn and tied up everywhere. Within the cell, sitting next to a highly polished large shield, we found a bedraggled man, not old, but not young. He looked sickly, like he’d been underground for a long time.

He begged us for a dagger. Thinking he may do himself an injury, we refrained from providing him with a weapon. We asked him about his precarious situation, hiding in a cell filled with garlic, and still he begged for a dagger or knife. Relenting, we provided him with a blade. He spun the shield around to face him and, using its polished surface as a mirror, shaved and groomed himself entirely. We stood by for fully 45 minutes while he cleaned himself up. Menka introduced himself, only to be told “I’ll be right with you.”

Laved, re-armed, ship-shape and Bristol fashion he stood up and introduced himself as Linneus, cleric of Aphrodite. We let him know that we had disarmed the fire trap on his door and he was less than concerned.

The Huntress#

“I take it you have not met the Huntress?”

Apparently, the Huntress had overtaken his party. A vampire, she took several of his party, but a few got away. He had gotten away and locked himself in that cell. Living on created food.

Apparently, the folk of Innsport were in regular commerce with this vampire. Indeed, she has fish- like creatures in her employ. Large, crustaceous creatures, lobsters with wings, 20’ tall, used as mounts by her warriors. The party was immediately united in its preference not to fart around with a vampire, so we considered returning to the magical gate to the south.

Linneus had heard of the Many Pillared Hall. It was a center of commerce, a trading hub between the surface and the Underdark. It was also several hundred miles east of our current location. We told him we believed we could get to that location via the gate at (B). He said he would love to leave and joined our party.

Arkadios was enraptured: “this is definitely the happiest enema I’ve ever had!”

Kyril fired up a detect magic and walked down the hallway past Linneus’ cell. Arkadios’ enema was not magical. There was a weapon rack along the north wall, but it held nothing of interest to us. The south wall held 8 key pegs, 7 of which were occupied.

Linneus had the last key: “the 8th key is in my cell - it is hidden behind the headboard.” He also pointed out on our map the direction in which he believed the Huntress had gone. It occurred to us that it may have been one of his party that blew up all over the thief. We described that scene of death and woe to Linneus (and he said it could have been his party?? Yes?? No further detail in the notes.)

Reaffirming our decision to have nothing at all to do with a vampire at this point, we decided to try the transporter gate at (B) and leave the monastery dungeons behind for a while. We traveled back to the scroll room without incident.

To activate the portal we needed to place each gray stone in its specific slot, one in each corner. While the rest of the party placed the stones Menka prepared and cast a prayer to Thoth. As we clicked the last stone into place, a disembodied voice was heard by each of us in his native tongue.

“Friend, family or foe?”

We answered with “friend”. The golden glow on the floor along the eastern wall reappeared. We all stepped into it together and experienced a blast of bright, searing light coupled with a non- corporeal sensation. Then, we were somewhere else entirely.

The Road Of Lanterns#

We found ourselves in a very small room, strewn with smashed and broken furniture. The troll had left claw marks everywhere. We were all disoriented for several minutes upon arriving due to the teleportation. Searching carefully around the room we found a secret door hidden in the far wall. It seemed to be a spinning platform that could fit 3 or 4 people.

Gonchar, Arkadios and Kyril stepped onto the platform, activated the mechanism, and a portion of the wall (including the floor on both sides) spun 180 degrees. They found themselves in a vaulted brick corridor - huge and spacious. 30’ ceilings. The floor sloped upward to the left and of course downward to the right. There were copper lanterns aglow with an unearthly fire on the walls regularly in each direction.

Above their heads, the trio found the trigger used to spin the secret door. It was well hidden and high off the ground, almost impossible to see. Two more spins brought the entire party into the corridor. The dwarves were initially disoriented and could not tell east from west on the Road of Lanterns. After this cleared, they were able to determine that the road sloped up to the north and down to the south.

The road looked well-traveled and free of dust or any other debris. Linneus has heard of the road before but has never been here.

Ulland Returns#

While standing in the corridor getting our bearings, we heard the secret passage mechanism trigger again. We all gave space and drew our weapons, only to see Ulland come through on the spinning platform. Ulland was very, very relieved (and fortunate) to have caught up with us.

Ulland told the party that his cousin’s “red-robed” group is thoroughly evil. Fenrig, who was always interested in things arcane and dangerous, is lost to their mad worship of some insane cult. They follow a god they refer to as Hastur and seem to think they must whisper his name lest he hear and come amongst them and destroy everything. Mostly they refer to him as the Unspeakable One. They seem to seek a book down here called the Pak-tonic Manuscripts, which they describe as an ancient set of tablets which contain the “keys” they need to unlock some kind of secret. They think it is hidden down here, guarded by dangerous beasts. They have not found it yet.

He also told us that as soon as we left, Kovar, Fenrig and the group, who are mostly monks and Priests of this insane cult, armored up and went back the way we came, and sent a thief named Alveh to hang back and watch where we went. The group seemed to not trust him (Ulland) but wanted Fenrig with them so they tolerated his presence. Fenrig has changed, Ulland told the party. Darkness has taken him.

The red-robes knew the party went down into the pit under the rope tied to the wooden beam. They waited a while and when things quieted down, they followed the party. They found that strange looking man webbed to the wall (Ulland figured the mage Lycovyne did this) and spoke to him in some strange language, and then they all went down one of the southern passages out of that room, and met a group of similarly strange-looking people, a crazy-looking beautiful young robed woman with frightening eyes and jet-black hair, a group of awful-smelling fish-men and huge beasts that seemed to be like bats, but lobsters, but also insects - there was a glowing orb in the room which seemed to open some gate in the wall, and Ulland caught a glimpse of what was beyond and had to leave. What was visible beyond the gate will haunt his nightmares. He told Fenrig he’d watch their back and left, ran like hell back to the room with the webs, and followed what he thought were our tracks here. The robed woman’s eyes still haunt him.

He thinks the red-robed ones were telling the insane-looking woman about our party. He’s not sure they all saw him leave - he knows Fenrig did, but maybe he just let Ulland go.

“They will come looking for us. It may not be a bad time to find out way out of here,” he said, " my cousin is lost."

Kyril was willing to go back and find the cultists and settle their hash right then but the party talked him out of it, preferring to gain some strength first.

Choosing a direction randomly, we followed the slope upwards and traveled north. Following a slight bend to the northwest we were confronted by a large statue of a demon, 10’ tall, crouched and gazing in our direction. Only a statue, thankfully. We passed it safely and continued. The road and its copper lanterns continued and then bent due north.

Gnoll Battle#

As we turned onto the second bend we began to hear barking, yipping noises. Only Lycovyne understood the language, as he speaks gnoll. Of course. We could see no one and no thing except the copper lanterns. We could also see that the road turned due west just ahead. The gnolls were probably right around the corner.

According to Lycovyne they were debating among themselves about whether, when and where to eat their halfling prisoner. He said that it sounded like about 20 gnolls and maybe a few flinds. Kyril wanted to skunk them, Menka wanted to chill a few of them. While we vacillated 5 gnolls wandered down around the corner (probably having smelled us, certainly having smelled Gonchar), saw us, yelled back to their feliform compadres and attacked.

• initiative loss
• Kyril got hit for 4 points and lost his spell (which spell?)
• Arkadios killed a gnoll
• Melios hit one for 6 points
• Lycovyne nailed a gnoll with a natural 20, doing 16 points of damage and splattering gnoll guts everywhere
• Ulland whipped out bow and arrow and nailed one for 16 points, killing it
• Gonchar hit one for 11 points, killing it
• several more gnolls attacked from around the corner, bringing 3 flinds along
• initiative tie (individual initiative rolls)
• Menka, Lycovyne and Ulland each missed
• Gonchar hit one (a flind) for 11 points
• Flint hit that same flind for 5 points, killing it
• the beasties missed Menka and Gonchar
• they hit Lycovyne for 3 points
• Kyril changed form to a giant spitting snake, gaining 4 HP in the process
• initiative win
• Menka missed
• Lycovyne hit a flind for 14 points, staggering it
• Ulland attacked the same flind and killed it
• Gonchar hit a gnoll for 13 points
• Flint missed and then hit that same gnoll for 4 points, killing it
• Kyril the snake attacked a gnoll but missed
• the beasties missed Menka, Kyril, Lycovyne and Flint
• initiative win
• Menka cast stumble on the big flind, evidently the leader
• Lycovyne missed, as did Ulland
• Gonchar hit a gnoll for 14 points, killing it
• Arkadios hit a gnoll for 5 points
• Flint hit one for 4 points
• Kyril the snake bit a gnoll doing a few points of damage but it made its save vs. poison and lived
• Menka, shieldless from casting, got hit for 5 points
• the beasties missed Kyril
• a gnoll hit Arkadios for 2 points
• Lycovyne got hit for 3 points
• Ulland missed with his second attack, while Flint hit with his for 4 points
• initiative loss
• several gnolls and flind broke through the line
• the big guy is clearly stumbling
• Lycovyne got spanked for 7 points
• Linneus got hit as well
• Menka hit a gnoll for 7 points, killing it, praise Thoth!
• Gonchar with a natural 20 and max damage roll, hit a flind for 32 points of damage, getting Flind brains all over everything
• Arkadios hit a gnoll for 4 points
• Flint missed and then hit for 8 points, killing a gnoll
• Kyril bit a gnoll and poisoned it, dropping it to the floor
• initiative win
• Menka hit a flind for 5 points
• Lycovyne and Gonchar missed
• Ulland missed, kept backing away (??)
• Arkadios nailed a flind for 11 points
• Flint hit a gnoll for 5 points
• Kyril the snake bit another gnoll, poisoning it
• they missed Gonchar
• Lycovyne got hit for 6 points (down to 18)
• another hit Flint for 5
• Linneus got hit again
• initiative win
• Menka missed
• Lycovyne nailed a gnoll for 11 points
• Ulland missed
• Gonchar hit a flind for 13 points
• Arkadios hit that same flind for 10 points, killing it
• Flint hit a gnoll for 16 points but didn’t kill it
• Linneus missed
• Kyril bit and poisoned another gnoll (that’s 3), killing it
• the flind leader, stumbling, missed Gonchar
• Lycovyne got hit again for 5 points, down to 13
• Flint got hit for 5 more as well and Linneus got hit again
• Gonchar missed on his second shot, while Flint disemboweled a gnoll with a natural 20
• initiative win
• Menka hit the flind leader for 9 points, praise Thoth!
• Kyril (having changed back to an elf) cured light wounds on Lycovyne for 8 points
• Lycovyne hit a gnoll for 7 points, killing it
• Ulland and Gonchar missed
• Arkadios hit the flind leader, killing it
• Flint hit a gnoll for 4 points
• Linneus then hit the same gnoll, killing it
• Menka (I think) cured light wounds on Lycovyne as well for 8 points, bringing him up to 29
• Lycovyne hit a gnoll for 15 points (that’s 3 hits in a row), killing it
• that was the last of the beasties
• Flind Leader (25)
  • Flind Bars
  • large sack
    • 4 100 gp gems
    • 75 pp
    • 300 gp
    • 400 ep
• 4 Flind (19, 18, 16, 16)
  • Flind Bars
  • 20 pp
  • 40 gp
  • 60 ep
• 15 Gnolls (16, 14, 14, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 11, 10, 8, 8)
  • 57 gp
  • 122 ep
  • morning star, long bow, glaives, two-handed swords

Having dispatched all the monsters, we searched around the corner to the west for a hobbit-sized parcel. We found a halfling, still alive. We removed his gag and he introduced himself as Rendil Halfmoon, of the Hall of Seven Pillars. “I live there and work in the Hall. If you are looking for it you’re going in the wrong direction - you need to go down.”

He was puzzled - he didn’t recognize us, but we must have come from the Hall, as that’s the direction we came from. We didn’t tell him about the secret door leading to the portal back to the drow prison, preferring to let him wonder. He told us that the Hall was ruled and run by the Mages of Saruun. He asked “can you cut me loose so I can get my equipment back?”

We cut Rendil loose. He got up, stretched his limbs, then walked over to the flind leader and got his equipment back. He was primarily interested in reclaiming a corned beef sandwich, with cabbage and mushrooms, made for him by his aunt which, according to him, there was no better fare on or in the earth. He stuffed it into his face then and there, while we watched and waited.

“4 Beer Moore” - I’m sure it was funny at the time.

Menka was intrigued by the flinds’ bar-and-chain style weapon and grabbed one for himself.

Rendil was effusive in his thanks and offered to get the party rooms at his aunt’s Inn in the Hall - The Halfmoon Inn. He had traveled out onto the Road against his aunt’s wishes, looking for the famed weapon room of the drow Malageth. An interesting topic considering where we’d just escaped from. We kept that to ourselves as well.

We told him we would accept his offer once we had seen the Hall for ourselves and he was satisfied and offered to lead the way. We reversed course and followed the road down in the other direction, passing the secret door. The journey to the Hall took about an hour. Along the way Rendil explained that the Hall of Seven Pillars is all that remains after the war between the minotaur and the drow ( what? when?).

As we walked the Road we became accustomed to the demonic statues, which were placed regularly, watching over us. Kyril asked Rendil why they were here - the halfling could only answer that there were 77 of them, evenly spaced, along the Road. We zigged and zagged downward for quite a while along the giant, high-ceilinged corridor. The road was easily wide enough to accommodate a caravan.

Linneus told us that we were in (or under) the city-state of Calandia and that one Baron Lucius ruled all, here. We were somewhere in the hinterlands of that country, hundreds of miles from the abandoned drow prison. He had heard of this place before but had never been here.

The Hall Of Seven Pillars#

We entered a very sharp bend at the end of the Road of Lanterns and could see a large opening before us, a little further on. Rendil explained that we would have to pass Brugg to gain entrance to the Hall and to let him handle the introductions.

As we approached Brugg’s guard station we entered a huge cavern. Massive indeed. An enormous city square with a river running through it. Stone facades, buildings hewn into the living rock around the perimeter with free-standing buildings within the cavern. On the far side of the river rose a massive minotaur statue, reaching toward the sky. Beyond that was an even larger tower, circular, reaching nearly to the ceiling. Seven large pillars stretched from floor to ceiling.

As we gaped in awe like slack-jawed yokels at the massive scale of the Hall of Seven Pillars we were stopped in our tracks by a massive, well-armed, well-armored, uniformed security crew. Most were massive ogre fighters though a few hooded, robed, foul-looking humans lurked in the background as well. All seemed to be in a similar uniform design, across armor, shields and robes.

Rendil approached first and spoke for us. Brugg paid little heed to Rendil but stared at us with interest and suspicion. His speech was terse and to the point.

“You are new here though we do know the halfling. Theft is forbidden here. Murder is forbidden here. Mercantile engagements are encouraged as long as the Mages get their share, otherwise they are forbidden.”

Rendil yelled up to Brugg that we had saved his life, had saved him from being eaten by a pack of gnolls and flinds. Brugg knew of this band of gnolls, apparently.

“Did you leave any alive to speak for themselves? No?” Looking way down at the halfling - " Rendil - you will be called as a witness in this matter."

Rendil understood and said “you know where to find me” and we were allowed to pass through the guard post into the Hall.

We followed Rendil to the Halfmoon Inn where he introduced us to his aunt, Ara Halfmoon, and explained what had happened. She was displeased in the extreme with her nephew but glad that he had been returned in one piece. She told us there would certainly be consequences for the killing of the gnolls and flinds.

Ara would not put us up indefinitely, but she did offer us rooms and sustenance for the night. She set us up with one large room and fed us well. We planned to rest overnight and then explore the Hall in the morning and, hopefully, begin the identify parade. Before crashing for the night, we cast some healing spells.

Linneus cured light wounds on Lycovyne. Kyril cured light wounds on Linneus. Kyril cured light wounds on Linneus.

The night passed uneventfully, and we were well fed in the morning. Ara Halfmoon told the party that she and her nephew had been to see Orontor, the official on duty at the Custom House. Rendil had been interview by Orontor and given his account of the gnoll encounter. It was our turn to meet with this Orontor.

We gussied ourselves up, regrouped and walked over to the Customs house. Brugg, as congenial as before, waited at the door.

“Orontor awaits you inside.”

We entered the Customs house and found the man himself sitting at a desk. He was a sour-faced, black-haired, human wizard, dour and dismissive.

We were interviewed briefly and stated the facts of our encounter with the gnoll band, stating clearly that they attacked us and then got what they deserved. Our story paralleled Rendil’s in most details and Orontor considered the matter closed, though one of Brugg’s patrols was dispatched to investigate the scene of the battle.

Kyril showed the sigil we carried to Orontor, a brazen move. Orontor looked surprised, paused for a moment, and then with a smile declared as follows: “The Mages of Saruun welcome so important personages as yourself into our hall.”

We mentioned training and he said: “Secure yourself in The Inn here, I am told it is most satisfactory. Within the day I will send my Dwarf to obtain the details of what training is needed. Do not come to our tower. It is not permitted. Note that none but masters of the arcane are permitted to walk the tower’s corridors. I hope you understand.”

He also mentioned Oflan Deepgem at the Deepgem Mining Co. and the Grimmersol Trading Co. as merchants worth visiting in the Hall. He said, once again, welcome to the Hall and that he would be at our service.

The Halfmoon Inn#

The party returned to The Halfmoon Inn and Lycovyne prepared to begin the identify process. The results of Lycovyne’s hard work are listed in the Loot section below. The rest of the party set about exploring the Hall and looking for members of their faith and/or profession to help them train.

Kyril visited the duergar at the Grimmesol Trading Co. as they were reputed to buy and sell goods from the surface world. They were less than cordial. He was motioned within and taken to a duergar woman who grilled and chided him for arriving with 2 mountain dwarves. Eventually she told Kyril they would purchase any fruits, vegetables or other surface food supplies he could bring back.

While wandering the Hall Kyril learned of a high-level druid on the surface who could train him. She was apparently within a few days’ travel, depending upon the mode of travel. He intended to leave immediately and headed back to the Inn to inform the party. [DM: I need her name and location if possible.]

Gonchar, meanwhile, went to the Deepgem Mining Co. looking specifically for a dwarven cleric and a restoration spell, the casting of which could hopefully be paid for with gems. They were pleased to see him but could not help and suggested that he visit the Temple of Diancecht and bring a lot of money with him. That temple was right next door.

He entered it and was met by a very pleasant half-elf priestess who was happy to help him. It was outside her faith and would require significant effort. As such she asked for 7,000 gold pieces by way of payment. Gonchar paid her in platinum pieces and added 100 extra pp as a tithe. She cast Restoration on Gonchar, bringing him back to 6th level (49, 676 xp) and 74 hit points.

[insert Gonchar’s Further level-up details]

Gonchar then returned to the Halfmoon Inn. We were gathered in the common room planning next steps. While we drank, ate and bickered a blind duergar came in. Not just blind, his eyes had been removed. We spoke with him about training and merchants.

As luck would have it, there was a High Priest of Thoth in the mage’s tower. The duergar directed Menka to Father Amon Azototh for his spiritual needs. He said, further, that he would confer with Amon and arrange a meeting, since we were not allowed in the Tower. Thinking he may be conferring with a High Priest in the very near future, Menka went back up to the party’s shared room to rest, pray and cast cleanse upon himself and his raiment, praise Thoth!

Flint spoke with Ara Halfmoon, seeking the local Thieves’ Guild and Ara offered to train him herself, and for a reduced rate, at that!

Linneus expressed a desire to begin the long trek back to Porttown. We may see him there some day. He had joined a caravan and would be leaving in the next few days. We bid him safe travel.

Kyril informed the party of his plan to travel to the surface. The idea of his joining the caravan with Linneus was floated but turned down. Kyril would change form into a bat or a budgie and fly through the dungeon back to the surface. He intended to fly all the way to his destination. He intended to visit a town called West Keep and meet with a Druidess named Auntie T.

When he reached the surface he changed his mind, however, as there were rocs flying about - seriously. He traveled by foot following the directions given and found his teacher. He worked her grove for a while (wink wink nudge nudge say no more) and she trained him, raising him to 8th level. The dirty boogie cost him 8,000 GP.

He returned to the Hall several days after leaving. Upon his return he brought some surface foodstuffs to the duergar at the Grimmersol Trading Co., gratis, as a sort of nature offering. Who knows, we may be able to buy and sell in this shop if we leave the dwarves behind.

Arkadios arranged for his training in the Hall.

[Get more details from Arkadios.]

Some hours later Menka was summoned to meet with Orontor. (I believe he alone of the party was at the Inn at that time.) Spotless, he followed Brugg back to the Customs House. Orontor was there, dour as ever, though he did ask if we were being taken care of and had found what we were looking for. Menka said yes and asked if he (or any of the Mages) could charge the party’s magical gear. Orontor replied that none of the mages had the time to spare for that type of activity.

He then told Menka that he needed to be present ^{[I believe “any one of the party” needed to be present and Menka was the only one present at the time.]} while a flind from the party we had destroyed was made an example of. The Ordinator Arcanus would preside over this “trial” at the foot of the large minotaur statue, presently. After the trial, Menka would be taken to see Amon Azototh through some means.

Menka walked across the river to the statue. An announcement had been made that a flind had been accused of being involved in the planning of an attack on a Hall resident would be tried. Residents had gathered around the giant Minotaur statue, a mixed crowd of many species. The Ordinator Arcanus appeared out of thin air at the base of the statue, wearing black robes and a golden mask bearing a stylized human face, asked a number of accusatory questions to the Flind, seemed to look at his hand when the Flind protested his innocence, declared him guilty, and then Brugg dispensed “justice” quickly and brutally, hacking the flind’s head off from behind.

The Mage Tower#

The crowd dispersed and Menka approached the statue for a closer look. There were large runes glowing around the base. Orontor asked Menka to ascend to the feet of the minotaur where he was informed that he would need to be blindfolded to get into the Tower and meet with Father Amon. He assented, was blindfolded, and was partially teleported and partially lead through twisting, turning, paths and a staircase and path after path and was finally introduced, sans blindfold, to Father Amon Azototh.

The High Priest of Thoth looked rather frayed, stressed and worn, but was nonetheless formally congenial and could indeed confer the blessing of a higher rank upon Menka. Menka explained where the party had been and what we had seen (knowledge gathering being the job of any priest of Thoth) and Amon told him of a unique and powerful book he sought. The dreaded tome Unspeakable Cults was somewhere deep under the Monastery of Diancecht near a sphinx known as Otessa and he wished to possess it to aid in his studies. Now that is a side quest.

Menka acknowledged the request and told Amon that when he returned to the dungeons below the Monastery, he would find this book and return with it. Satisfied, the High Priest conferred the title of Lama upon Menka for the cut rate of 500 gold pieces. Indeed. He then reminded Menka that soon, Thoth willing, he would be required to build a monastery or a church and establish a permanent place of worship to spread the word of Thoth. Menka agreed, understood, took his leave of the good father and signaled to his escort that he was ready to return.

Via the same twisted, blindfolded path he was taken back to the statue of the Minotaur. With the blindfold removed he walked back to the Halfmoon Inn.

( see PC status table next page )

Character Stats & Accumulated Loot#