Harald and Ninax, Menka and Cathal discussed the orcish incursions . Cragenheim will be levying troops from the surrounding area in the near future. Priest and knight assured them we would be back through at some point.

Menka, Cathal and Seamus planned to travel to the Hall of Seven Pillars the following morning. Ninax offered to ride with us to the block house. With the cessation of the frigid, lingering winter the road to Westkeep was re-opened, though only a well-protected caravan dare make the journey.

Harald thanked us again and hoped fervently that we would return and help to defend and secure the area.

The next morning we traversed the keep, loading up on supplies.

• iron rations: 10 gp
• grain for the horses for 5 days: 10 sp
• Menka and Cathal purchased medium war horses for 300 gp
• Cathal purchased a lance for 5 gp - a prudent purchase
• Seamus picked up a small riding horse and a pig for 38 gp

The three saddled up and went the next morning, hitting the road for the Hall with Ninax accompanying us as far as the block house, which was about 15 miles east of Markheim. From there we proceeded to Westkeep without Ninax. The hidden door to the Hall of Seven Pillars was hidden along the road to the east, beyond Westkeep.

Seamus rode side-saddle with a keg and a small, live pig. Ninax looked on, amused.

A large caravan approached us from the east, 20-25 wagons. Ninax rode ahead and hailed them. The caravan master was an Hibernian and Cathal and Seamus joined Ninax as he poured out black ale. We dismounted for a bit of a stretch and Menka grabbed a pint as well. Apparently this caravan made the trek from Markheim to the Free Cities and back, regularly. The master warned us of a large band of gnolls off the trail in the canyon to the east. They wouldn’t attack a caravan of his size, but the three of us may find ourselves beset. He cautioned us to be careful. After the road splits, the gnolls were off the road to Westkeep.

We rode on. Ninax pointed out a skunk the size of a man. “They grow them big around here.”

We reached the blockhouse around noon and Ninax entered, and we continued on our way. We encountered one of the Castellan’s patrols, which warned us that 6-7 ogres had been spotted along the road to the east as well. We decided to ride hard to the east and quickly passed the patrol. Riding along the river we saw truly giant ants, 2’ in length, swarming a large corpse on the other side.

As we ascended into the hills the farms thinned out then disappeared. The rocky hills rolled on before us. Ambush country.

The pig started to squeal and a very large rock hurtled toward Cathal, thankfully going wide. 3 hill giants approached.

• surprise
• they missed Cathal with a thrown rock
• initiative loss
• Seamus got drilled by a rock for 24 points of damage while he fucked around with his bacon
• a hill giant swung a tree trunk at Cathal but missed
• Cathal hurled his lance and stuck an hill giant for 14 points
• Menka dismounted and cast Cloak of Fear
• Seamus ditched the horse and the fat back and attacked the hill giant to the north
• initiative tie
• Seamus popped his hill giant twice for 12 points
• Menka got hit for 13 points, then Storm Voiced the hill giant and it fell, prone (1 charge)
• the hill giants missed Seamus and Cathal
• initiative win
• Cathal hit twice with one a natural 20, doing 40 points of damage, gravely wounding his opponent
• that hill giant missed its counterattack
• Seamus hit his hill giant for 17 points
• Menka flailed his prone opponent for 5 points, chipping a nail
• initiative win
• Menka missed
• Seamus popped the hill giant for 11 more points, sorely wounding it
• Cathal beheaded his opponent
• initiative loss
• Menka got hit with a tree trunk for 10 points
• Seamus got hit for 14 as well
• Cathal attacked Menka’s opponent, hitting the giant for 19 points
• Menka missed
• Seamus hit his opponent twice, laying him out
• initiative win
• Menka hit the last giant for 10 points
• Cathal hit it for 31 more and it dropped like a smelly sack of meat
• 3 hill giants: 56, 50, 48

Menka cured his own serious wounds and cast the spell on Seamus as well while the paladin applied some battlefield first aid.

Menka (49/54) Seamus (72/78) Cathal (75/75)

Seamus searched the bodies, finding nothing of interest. The giants carried a large burlap sack however, and it was not empty.

Hill Giant Loot!

• 1023 cp
• 576 sp
• 323 ep
• 653 gp
• 4 gems
• 1/2 deer leg (left behind)
• a human woman’s burned hand

Cathal retrieved his lance and we saddled up and traveled forward, toward Westkeep. 2 hours later a pack of dogs began to follow us, interested in Seamus’ little pig. They buggered off, judging it not worth the effort to take it from him.

Darkness was falling to the ground as we approached a T in the road. A badly worn sign provided some directions:

Northeast: Holy Temple of Dionysus.
West: Markheim (the road we approached, on)
Southeast: Westkeep
Northwest: Lake Placid Brewing Co.

The view was clear in all directions. We decided to pull off the road near the sign and camp for the night.

First watch: Menka heard dogs barking off in the distance. Second watch: Seamus, frying bacon, salting fatback and rendering fat into lard, heard the dogs as well, drawn closer by his meatpacking-plant activities. Third watch: Cathal said the dogs had quieted down, though he heard the beating of large wings overhead and looked up to see a giant dragon-like creature. Thankfully it passed us by.

Menka (52/54) Seamus (75/78) Cathal (75/75)

The sun belched upon us and we saddled up and headed east-southeast. The riding was rough and the ground rose as we went. We could make 15-20 miles per day meaning we wouldn’t quite make Westkeep today.

As we rode into the hills it began to get colder. This was the area the patrol warned was plagued by a band of ogres. And then we heard a beautiful female voice sing to us. Of course. Cathal and Menka failed their save vs. spell. Cathal and Seamus were both immune to the spell, anyway, and while Cathal felt an urge to follow the beguiling song and gaze upon the surely delightful feminine vision which sang it, his faith and training bolstered him, and he did not. Menka’s wits failed him, and he succumbed to the urge to run to this most assuredly-delectable goddess and gaze upon her - and hopefully, more.

A deer trail lead off to the north of the trail. Menka, salivating at the thought of her, followed this path on his horse, climbing steadily. Cathal tried to grab the reins of Menka’s horse but failed. Seamus leapt off his mount and tackled Menka off his horse and held him down while the knight rolled initiative.

• 3 harpies descended upon us
• initiative win
• Cathal, natural 20, 46 points of damage, sliced a harpy in half
• Menka was released from his charm
• Menka and Seamus missed this round
• initiative loss
• terrified by Cathal’s effortless dispatch of their companion, the other two harpies fucked off and flew away, into the trees
• 1 harpy, 24 hp

We continued our journey east, steadily climbing into the hills. Just after mid-day we passed an abandoned wagon with a broken wheel/axel. We heard the sounds of falling rocks and breaking trees and smelled smoke, somewhere in the area. We reached a pinnacle of sorts and as we crested the hill and began our downward trek the smoke seemed to be rising a mile or so ahead.

Riding forward cautiously, we found the remains of a destroyed caravan. It looked small, 2 burning wagons and 4 slain oxen. The oxen appeared to have been butchered for food, not consumed by wild animals. 4 dead men lay among the wreckage, stripped of belongings. There was a corpse tied to one of the wagon wheels. He seemed to have been tortured and burned alive.

The Burned Out Caravan#

Seamus leapt up into the hills and looked for any clues or evidence of the attackers. He found some pieces of fabric, seemingly torn from a woman’s dress.

The paladin was livid. Torture is a thing not to be abided. The cleric was none too pleased, either. Seamus returned with his fabric clue and we dismounted and lead our horses up the hill along the same path, in search of the evildoers.

As we lead the horses up the path we entered a mist that seemed to grow more dense the further we ascended. We were looking for someplace safe to tie up the horses. As we crested the side of the canyon we found a green copse of trees near a stream, with plentiful forage. We tied our horses up loosely and Menka cast wyvern watch, hoping it would deter any wrongdoers from making off with the horses. Cathal mentioned that it looked exactly what he’d seen fly overhead on watch the previous night.

We marched forward on foot, in the general direction of the deepening mist. Seamus spoke with the local flora though it didn’t have much to say. He then spoke with a passing squirrel. He chittered and squeaked and cavorted, learning from the rodent that creatures that sounded very like gnolls had passed through, as well as something else very large.

We continued north and west along the stream for a couple miles and the mist continued to get more dense. Thinking we were nearing a gnoll den Menka cast Ssilence 15’ so we could approach unheard. Seeking the source of the unnatural mist, we continued on. The on-and-off wind gusts blew the mist away but it always returned. We found a simple, rough log bridge across the stream and followed it. A small waterfall burbled nearby.

We saw, up the hill from our position, atop a bluff upon 15-20 foot tall cliffs, accessible only by a path up to the front doors, a rough wooden palisade, several hundred feet long. Large double gates provided entrance but anyone on the path approaching the gates was an easy shot. We could see the tops of taller buildings over the wall, and stayed hidden from view at the foot of the hill, around the corner, behind the trees. The mist seemed to be emanating from somewhere inside the fort, though it truly did not seem like water vapor.

Menka stopped the silence so we could discuss our approach. Cathal wanted to run hellbent for leather up the center, but Seamus offered to become invisible and scout ahead a bit. This seemed a prudent plan, so off he went. He returned a short while later with a rough, hand-drawn map of the area.

A map for this encounter is available here.

Scanning the map, we decided to approach from the left, up the cliff face. Cathal levitated to roughly the tree tops and could clearly see the unnatural mist emanating from the large building in the center of the fort. Seamus, a bit more dexterous, helped the plate-mailed cleric get up the cliff face.

Cathal leapt to the top of the palisade wall and then down the other side. Seamus scrambled up and down it like his ass was on fire. Menka managed to get to the top using a rope but had no way down the other side and returned down the rope.

He heard the crash bang wallop of battle begin, took one pull from a potion of invisibility and ran around the front of the fort toward the gates. He used 2 charges from the Ring of the Ram to blow them open and then ran in heading toward the sounds of battle. They were coming from a long building to the west and the cleric saw a gnoll run toward the big building in the center, running for help.

Menka cast Cloak of Fear and entered the long building to the left and saw Cathal and Seamus battling gnolls and flinds. 9 gnolls yet lived while 5 more littered the floor. 2 flinds had just entered and were preparing to attack Cathal and Seamus. Menka, invisible, attacked the flinds.

• Menka nailed a flind for 8 points and became visible, shouting that more were on the way
• initiative loss
• Seamus got hit for 15 points of damage
• Seamus kilt a gnoll
• Cathal hit one twice, slicing and dicing
• 2 gnolls each on Seamus and Cathal, 2 flinds on Menka and more on the way!
• initiative tie
• a flind hit Menka, though he made his save vs. wands to not lose his weapon, praise Thoth!
• Seamus popped a gnoll for 3 points
• Cathal sliced and diced, another one down and all over the place
• Menka hit the same flind for 6 more, killing it
• initiative win
• Cathal slew another gnoll
• Seamus ended his opponent’s stay in this world
• Menka flailed the other flind for 8 points
• one of the remaining gnolls threw a black marble on the floor in front of Cathal and Seamus
  • Cathal took 10 points of force damage and found himself encased in a 10’ sphere, unable to hack his way out
  • As it formed around Cathal it exploded outward. Seamus, standing nearby, took 2 points of damage but made his save vs. spell and was not encased in the sphere
• Seamus still managed to whack a gnoll for some damage, stunning it
• Menka flailed the stunned gnoll and ended its life
• the remaining gnolls missed
• we heard footsteps approaching from outside, some of which sounded large
• initiative loss
• 3 flinds entered through the same door Menka used and then the doors were ripped off their hinges by a giant humanoid outside
• the 2 remaining gnolls missed
• Menka lobbed a 5th level fireball into the doorway from his Necklace of Missiles, focusing on the flinds and the giant outside, doing 18 points of damage
  • the fireball killed all 3 flinds, praise Thoth!
• we heard the giant howl in pain from outside so he took the fireball in the bucket as well
• Cathal, immobile, produced a steady stream of invective in several languages
• Seamus leapt after the fireball and attacked the singed, smoking giant, hitting it for 16 points
• initiative win
• Seamus punched the shit out of the giant for 23 more points
• Menka hit a remaining gnoll for 5 points
• a gnoll hit Menka for 2 points but did not steal his weapon
• Seamus got slashed for 14 points by the huge sword the giant wielded with both hands
• initiative loss
• Seamus got hit for 18 more, down to (18/78)
• a gnoll hit Menka for 5 points
• Seamus hit the giant again for 15 points
• Menka nailed the gnoll for 6 points, killing it
• initiative loss
• the gnoll and the flind missed Menka
• Seamus got slashed for 16 more points, knocking him down to (2/78)
• on fire, he clobbered the thing again for 18 more points, killing it
• Menka hit the flind for 5 points
• initiative tie
• Seamus attacked a gnoll, killing it
• the flind attacked Seamus and hit him for only 1 point, praise Diancecht!
• Menka flailed the flind for 10 points, killing it

Jaysis.

Menka (42/54) Seamus (1/78) Cathal (65/75) ?

14 gnolls, 5 flinds and a fog giant. (see below for hp).

We heard noises from the large building to the north and smelled wood smoke. Menka cured Seamus of some of his serious wounds. Seamus touched himself as well, and we got him up to (31/78). Another cure serious wounds from the priest and a cure light wounds from his mug got the giant killer back up to (47/68). Just then, a bunch of fire drakes attacked.

• surprise
• one of the fire drakes breathed fire into the room. Cathal was protected in his bubble.
• Seamus saved (taking no damage)
• Menka failed his save and took 11 points of fire damage
• initiative win
• Seamus attacked the lead fire drake with a spear, keeping his distance, hitting it for 11 points - it bled fire
• Menka hit it for 10 points killing it
• Menka’s magic weapon did not catch fire, though Seamus’ spear did
• initiative tie
• breath weapon from another drake
• Menka took 7 points of fire damage while the monk took 3
• Menka dropped his shield and slammed a potion of fire resistance
• Cathal’s bubble popped and he was free
• Seamus speared the drake at the end of his weapon’s reach for 8 points
• we saw the form of a gnoll in the doorway
• initiative tie
• Seamus save vs. breath weapon and took no damage
• Menka, failed but resistant, took 5 points
• Cathal failed and took 11 points of damage
• Cathal jumped and hit twice, killing the drake and causing it to explode
• initiative win
• Menka cast chill and centered it beyond the gnoll, outside the building and everything within a 30’ radius began taking cold damage
• the remaining fire drakes and the gnoll were enveloped in a frosty mist
• Cathal made his save vs. spell and only took half the initial blast of cold damage
• 2 fire drakes out of reach flew away, dripping ice
• Seamus hit one for 9 points and killed it in a hiss of frost and fiery blood
• Cathal nailed one twice for 28 points, destroying it similarly
• 2 fire drakes and a gnoll left
• one drake shot up vertically and bathed us all in its fire breath
• Menka failed his save but, still resistant, took 2 points
• Cathal failed his save and took 6 points
• initiative loss
• the gnoll crumpled, nearly frozen
• the remaining fire drake on the ground crumpled as well, steaming
• the firedrake in the air flew away, dripping ice as it fled
• 5 fire drakes (see below)
• Cathal helped the shivering, mostly dead gnoll along on his way to the afterlife

Cathal laid hands upon Menka, healing him for 16 points. We entered the building to the right. The walls were covered in frescos of the Twice-Crowned king laying waste to a village, surrounded by an army of gnolls, orcs and goblins. A large iron bound chest sat along the wall. 4 sets of shackles hung on the wall, empty.

The cavalier walked out into the open area between the 3 buildings and took damage from the chill spell, except he didn’t as it had dissipated after the last enemy flew away.

Seamus checked the chest for traps, finding none. Cathal cured Seamus’ critical wounds using his sword, getting the monk 27 points back. He also cast cure serious wounds on Menka, getting him back 13.

Cathal (54/75) Menka (43/54) Seamus (71/78)

Seamus opened the iron bound chest and it was filled with grain. Not brewer’s malt, mind, but feed. He upended the chest, finding nothing of value buried in the grain. We exited and walked toward the large building in the northern part of the fort. It was a sturdy log house with a roof 20’ in the air. Vapor seeped through the cracks between the logs. Piles of rocks stood by at the ready next to the large doors.

We entered the building. Steam and vapor issued forth from a huge crack in the floor that opened into the earth, itself. A young woman was chained to one of the pillars holding up the roof. Menka said a quick prayer for all 4 of us in case this turned into a trap. We approached the woman. She was in rough shape. Seamus used his heal other ability on her, getting her 12 points back, then cut her bonds, freeing her. Revived somewhat, she thanked us for saving her life.

We exited the building. The young woman’s name was Elena. She was still in shock but was able to keep up with us. First we went to the building in the lower left corner and checked all the corpses for loot. Menka searched for more of Beads of Force but found none. Curses!

A thick cord or chain hung into the pit, tied to a wooden pillar. Cathal grabbed it and found it heavy, holding something on the other end. He and the monk threw their backs into it and pulled a large wooden chest out of the steam pit. It was not locked and did not seem trapped so Seamus opened it. Filled with gold, it was, with 6 silver flasks laid out on top!

Fog Giant Fort Loot!

• 100 ep
• 308 cp
• 93 sp
• carved idol of some sort, glistening and tentacled - evil - Menka stuffed it in his bag of holding
• giant’s sword (far too large for any of us to wield, left behind)
• large wooden chest pulled from the fog giant’s steaming hole:
  • 2500 gp
  • 6 silver flasks

Fog Giant Fort Corpses!

• 14 gnolls, 10 hp
• 5 flinds, 18, 18, 18, 13, 12 hp
• 1 fog giant 76 hp
• 5 fire drakes 21, 18, 15, 15, 13

We left the compound and walked back to where we’d left the horses, Cathal dutifully helping Elena along the rough trail. As we saddled up, she asked us (from Cathal’s saddle) to take her to Westkeep which was not only on our way, but also our destination. It took an hour to get down the side of the canyon and back to the main trail and the destroyed caravan. Elena dismounted and wept at the scene, telling us that they were all family. We helped her to bury her brothers and cousins, off the road, and to raise the cairns. Elena said a prayer to Odin over every grave.

This took the rest of the day, so we camped off the road overnight. Menka and Cathal rolled out the cure light wounds prayers before we rested. The night watches were quiet, and we woke the next morning, well rested, and saddled up.

Cathal (65/75) Menka (51/54) Seamus (74/78)

We hit the road, heading for Westkeep (#2 on the regional map). We heard a river in the distance.

Then we were attacked by 2 of the wyverns Cathal heard fly over head 2 nights prior.

• initiative loss
• a wyvern attacked Menka - its bite missed but its stinger hit for 14 points and Menka failed his save vs poison (35/54)
• Menka pitched forward out of the saddle and hit the ground frothing and convulsing, on his way out of this world
• the other wyvern attacked Elena but Cathal was able to parry it
• Cathal swung back and hit twice, once with a natural 20, doing 52 points of damage, slicing its head off
• the huge draconic creature plummeted to the ground, narrowly missing Seamus
• initiative win
• Menka, saved for 1 point by his Periapt of Proof Against Poison, regained consciousness, praise Thoth!
  • he then proceeded to hurl all over the place, including himself
• Seamus threw his spear and, with another natural 20, stuck the remaining wyvern for 20 points of damage
• it failed its morale check and fled back into the sky
• 1 wyvern, 42 hp

Menka cleaned himself as well as possible, unable to take time out to pray and cleanse. Seamus chased down the cleric’s horse, it hadn’t gone too far. We saddled up and continued on our way, into deep, dark forest. Elena told us we were a day’s travel from Westkeep. We passed a misty moor to the south, as well as a huge mound or manmade hill to the north, which we were glad not to be riding by at night. Huge cranes stood in the river to the south as well. One pulled a 6’ pike out of the water. We saw very large toads off the side of the road as well.

Through sylvan woods and then straight south for several more miles and we saw wyverns in the sky in the distance, again. We hid in the trees and went hull down for a bit until they passed overhead. Continuing on, we reached our destination an hour later. On the evening of the 3rd day since leaving Markheim, we stood at the gates of Westkeep.

Westkeep, Ho!#

As we approached the gate the guards hailed Elena as “milady”, obviously familiar with her. They were deeply suspicious of the 3 of us arriving on horseback, and Elena quelled their anxiety somewhat by telling the guards we had rescued her. (She said quietly to Cathal that she was not from Westkeep but the caravan had been through here before, often.) They called for their captain, Leif Ragnarsson. He came out, we exchanged pleasantries and handed Elena over into his care, and decided to spend the night in Westkeep. Menka looked forward to some prayer and a hot bath.

We entered the village and handed our horses over to the stables, to be setup for the evening. Cathal made his way down to the Tinker’s Hall while Seamus and Menka walked through the grove. Auntie T. was there, speaking with the birds. Friendly as ever, she preferred the birds and had no time for us. Seamus hung out for a bit, listening in on the conversation.

Menka continued east to the Temple of Odin. He introduced himself to Father Mauro and the priests spoke about the area. Menka mentioned to him that we were traveling to the Hall of Seven Pillars and the priest of Odin suggested strongly that we NOT discuss that with the locals, and not mention the Hall at all. They really didn’t want their sons and daughters going off looking for adventure in the place and never returning. Fair, and thanks for the advice.

A map of Westkeep is available here.

In due course we all met at the Tinker’s Hall for foaming mugs of black ale. Cornelius and Cora, the proprietors, were cordial. They offered us a private room with a hot water bath and a wet bar for 1 piece of gold, which we accepted.

Captain Ragnarsson entered the tavern and was handed a bottle of whiskey, little knowing it would be the last one available for rather a few days… Leif spoke with us for a bit about the surrounding area. He wished to return to Cragenheim to see his family and friends again, though he was sure to be sent out by Harald to fight off the orcs in the far east. He bemoaned the state of his squad, saying they were all too green for that level of combat. But, alas, this was the way of things.

He noted that these were not the normal orcs we had encountered before. They were more powerful and far more disciplined. They were much more deadly and also spread disease in their wake. Whole villages had fallen to the orcish sword and their disease.

Cathal asked to send word to Elena and a young woman appeared, one of the girls tending to her. She brought Cathal to Elena. The paladin offered her a bag of 400 gp to get herself back on her feet. She gasped and was not sure she would survive the trip home with that kind of gold. But she warmed to the idea the more she thought about it, and kept the gold, though she would need to find something to hide it in. As soon as she was back on her feet she would return to Briarwood, the closest of the Free Cities (#20 on the Osgoth map). Briarwood is roughly 4 days’ travel from Westkeep.

Cathal had no luck at all getting the gems we’d found appraised. Cornelius offered a possible value of 200 gp each with an enormous grain of salt in place. We retired for the evening. Menka rested and prayed and cleansed himself. Seamus manufactured 4 darts for use on the trail.

Getting the horses from the stables, we saddled up and left Westkeep, following the Tinker’s Trail northeast behind the village, in search of the secret entrance to the Road of Lanterns.

We made it to Farley’s Ferry without incident. We had been here once before (see 3.2.4, though the ferry is not specifically mentioned). A small shack was on the far (west) bank of the river, while a larger shack stood on our bank. A rope crossed the river between the buildings. The raft was on our side.

Cathal knocked on the door and an ornery man appeared. We paid him a gold piece and he hollered a name to the other side. A very, very large man emerged from the small shack and, once we were aboard the ferry with our horses, this large man pulled the raft across. Once we reached the other side, we saddled up and left. The ornery man gave Lemuel some food and then told that worthy soul to pull him back across the river. Upon reaching the far side, the big man (who seemed a tad ‘simple’ in the head) said hi to the nice horsies and asked to pet them. He was enormous, friendly, over 7 feet tall and heavily muscled.

We continued on the Tinker’s Trail, in search of the entrance to the Road of Lanterns. Wandering monsters being what they are, we were attacked by 5 big ogres, with one more somehow creeping up behind.

• initiative win
• Menka said a prayer, and then didn’t as he got hit by an ogre, initiative be damned, taking 5 points and losing the spell
• 2 ogres came upon Cathal ^{[Which in turn begat the grimdark niche kink of "paladin bukkake"]}
• Cathal hit one of them for 13 points
• Cathal got clubbed for 20 points
• Seamus got nicked for 2 points
• Cathal hit back for 17 points, killing an ogre
• initiative loss
• they missed Menka
• Cathal got hit again for 12
• Seamus got nicked again for 6 points
• Seamus hit an ogre so hard with a natural 20 that we heard the skull shatter (36 points of damage), killing it
• Cathal hit a new ogre for 13 points
• Menka chipped a nail
• initiative loss
• 2 attacked Cathal, chipping his armor for 1 point
• 2 attacked Menka but missed, praise Thoth!
• Seamus attacked an ogre attacking Menka, hitting it for 7 points
• Menka hit the other one attacking him for 6 points
• Cathal hit twice with a natural 20 for 36 points, killing an ogre
• initiative win
• Seamus hit twice for 12 points
• Menka hit the ogre for 12 points
• Cathal hit the last ogre for 11 points
• the ogres missed Cathal and Menka
• Seamus got hit again for 6 points
• initiative win
• Seamus hit an ogre twice for 14 points, killing it
• Cathal hit his opponent for 18 points, killing it
• Menka flailed his opponent for 10 points, it was near death
  • it turned and tried to flee, giving Menka a free shot, and he killed it
• 6 ogres, 25 hp each

These ogres seemed to be dressed in the livery of the Hall of Seven Pillars. Perhaps they were out looking for some extra spoils. It lead them to their deaths, but their pouches were full.

Ogre Loot!

• 7 pp
• 45 gp
• 70 ep
• 125 sp
• 400+ cp

We doled out some more healing. Cathal made with the battlefield medicine, Menka supplied some cure serious wounds prayers and Seamus healed other.

Cathal (62/75) Menka (51/54) Seamus (66/78)

Having slain the ogres, we continued onward and eventually found the secret door to the Road of Lanterns. The road lead down a long, large tunnel with brick floors and walls and copper lanterns spaced regularly. Statues of a demon were also spaced regularly as we trotted down the Road, watching us at every step. After a half mile on the Road we entered the large cavern that is the Hall of Seven Pillars.

Brugg appeared on cue from the customs house and gave us his speech (see 2.7.7), although he seemed to recognize us. We noted that he was fully half again as large as the group of ogres we just killed.

We dropped off our horses at the stables and then walked over to the Halfmoon Inn. Menka greeted Erra Halfmoon, the halfling innkeeper, and she remembered him, well. He asked after Pippen, the Vampiress’ “Renfield” from beneath the Temple, and she told us he had gone down the Road of Shadows, perhaps down the deep stairs. Menka asked Erra to send word to Father Amon that he was in town and wished to meet. She spoke to a small kobold (small even by kobold standards) who left the Inn, off on the mission to bring word.

The Temple of Hidden Light#

Cathal and Seamus sauntered over to the Temple of Hidden Light. The monk planned to visit the Deepgem Mining Co. afterward.

Cathal met with the priestess, Phaladra, and the two discussed current affairs. She gave him details about a stolen book, rumored to be buried in the temple beneath the sands to the south. This book was, in fact, the same volume Seamus had left Hibernia to search for.

Phaledra has been told that Karamel McCullough, a legendary paladin of Cathal and Seamus’ sect, had traveled far to the south and received knowledge that the Bretha Dein Cecht was stolen by an adherent of elder gods, who sought to trade the book’s knowledge for knowledge of older, more forbidden things, and the holy book of healing had been located in the far south, in an ancient temple to Thoth which is sunken beneath the sands of the desert, and is stored in a library there, possibly related to a bargain struck between the individual who stole the book, and the god Thoth and/or one of his servants, who knowledge was sought from.

Cathal knows Karamel. She was a paladin who preceded him in his order, and was known for fighting with dual daggers, and wearing bracers instead of armor - it is said that she loathed the restrictions of armor. Cathal fought against the giants in groups of warriors of which she was a part, and she was determined, and slightly aloof, but a deadly fighter against the cruel and violent, and devoted to the cause.

In any event, many months ago, Karamel McCollough wrote to the church of Dianechet and stated that she would go beneath the sands to seek to book, and return with it. She has not been heard from since. The Church of Dianechet in The Boyne of Hibernia is concerned for her and the book.

Cathal produced the Staff of Curing and the Periapt of Healing, asking her if she could once again add charges to them. She told him the best he could hope for in the time allowed was 5 charges on the Staff. No answer (yet) on the Periapt.

Cathal thanked her profusely and tithed over 1500 gp to the temple. Seamus tithed over 1500 gp as well. The last time we were at the Hall (see 3.2.3) a traveling wizardess asked us for any and all information she could get about the ancient, abandoned dwarf mine. Cathal asked after this wizardess as we had her answers. The priestess replied that she had left the Hall and headed to the Underdark seeking the secrets of Torag, the king that crawls.

Cathal then filled her in with the fate of the Twice-Crowned King. She thanked her god and Cathal for that news and blessed the knight and the monk. This blessing also returned them to full hit points.

Cathal stayed at the Temple for a while longer, deep in reflective thought and prayer and assisting with whatever tasks were needed, as required for his ascension to the next level of knighthood. Seamus walked over to the Deepgem Mining Co., hoping to get the giant’s gems appraised. He entered the establishment and the floor sloped down, so that he found himself looking “up” to the dwarf behind the counter. He asked the dwarf to appraise the games. The dwarf was basically a prick, and scoffed a lot, offering 250 gp for the 4 gems and refusing to provide an appraisal. Seamus thanked him for his time and left without fencing the gems.

Menka Meets With Father Amon#

Back at the Halfmoon Inn, the kobold returned and spoke to Menka.

“Karak can take you to Father Amon.” He held out his hand. Menka gave him a few silvers and his hand didn’t move. He added a piece of gold to the pile and the kobold grunted and said “follow me”. The cleric was taken to the statue of the minotaur. He was given a hood to wear. Looking at the ground through the bottom of the hood, he stepped onto a teleportation disk. Someone told him to “step out”.

Abruptly he found himself on a different disk, somewhere else. Still hooded, he was lead up stairs and then 100 paces or so and into a chamber. “You will wait.”

Father Amon’s familiar voice told Menka to remove the hood and the cleric did so, finding himself in a large chamber. Amon Azoth stood in front of him. He was missing his right leg from the knee down and stood on a peg. His head was tattooed with stylized ibis and ankh images.

The two exchanged formalities and Menka brought the priest up to date. In turn, Amon told Menka that his studies continued, and that he had obtained a helpful book along the Shining Road. Obtained by some freebooters he had dealt with, guarded by the servants of Torag, the King that Crawls. (that name again?) Menka showed him the idol we’d found among the gnoll gear on the road to the Hall, and he was intrigued. Menka offered that one and all the other similar, ghastly miniature totems he had collected in his travels and Fr. Amon took them.

When told of Heimdell’s complete destruction, Amon asked if we’d found any books under his stronghold. Menka could only remember the Marvels of Science, which we left under the stronghold. He did tell Amon about the book that porked Flint’s mind, currently buried in Cathal’s pack.

Father Amon’s preferred currency is rare, unusual books, from which he could add to Thoth’s total knowledge. Like all Stygian church officials, he required gold to level Menka up, though he would cut that price in half to 4,500 gp if Menka gave him the invisible, terrifying book. He warned Menka that he (Amon) could only confer the level increase in rank, but NOT in the spiritual sense. Conferring high priesthood required a rituals and Menka would need to lead a formal service in a temple to Thoth. Such temples were in short supply in Amon’s apartment in the wizards’ tower.

Menka informed Amon that the book was not in fact in his possession and was held by a fellow party member, a Knight of Diancecht. It would be best if Amon joined us at the Halfmoon and met with Cathal. Menka was sure we could come to some agreement. Amon eagerly assented and said he would meet us at the Halfmoon that evening for dinner.

Amon then suggested Menka seek such books in the buried temple in the far south. Menka informed the high priest that the party was indeed headed to Ruatha, and soon. He was pleased by this and urged Menka to go in and explore and rehabilitate the temple buried in the sands.

The cleric broached the topic of constructing a church with Amon. Clearly, he (Menka) would need resources and support to build such a structure, esp. in the wide, barbarian hinterlands of the north. Amon asked if Menka had any locations in mind and the cleric replied with 2 options: back west, toward the coast, near the blighted Temple of Diancecht, or in the Markheim regions, which remained plagued by giants and humanoids, and clearly stood in need of cleaning out. Amon approved of both locations and said if Menka were to build in the Markheim area he would give what support he could. But as a high priest sequestered away in a wizards’ tower, he could not really help with the construction. He strongly suggested Menka take this up with the Temple of Thoth far to the south, once he had been elevated to High Priest. Fair enough.

Menka would need to spend 5 long days in overtime in the small chapel in Amon’s apartments to have his new rank conferred upon him. This study would need to be supplanted by ritualistic exercises and consultation with a Temple of Thoth to complete ’leveling’. This training would start the next morning. Menka thanked Amon and took his leave and then by hood, steps and teleporter was returned to the statue of the minotaur.

Back at the Halfmoon, the cleric bought himself a stiff drink and called over Seamus and Cathal. He explained his possible deal with Amon but told the knight it was his decision to give up the book into Amon’s care. The difference (for Menka) came down to money really, and the cleric preferred to let Cathal make the call.

As if on cue, Father Amon entered the Halfmoon Inn. He was well known in the establishment and Erra poured him a glass of date wine. Menka introduced the High Priest to Cathal and Seamus. Unwilling to “do business” in the common room, we repaired to our private apartments to discuss the matter.

Cathal reached into his pack and produced the book, placing it in Father Amon’s lap. The room immediately grew colder. Amon’s eyes went wide in amazement. He put his hand under his robe and handled the book gingerly through the cloth but did not open it. He explained to us that this was indeed the Cryptichronos, the fabled Book of Horrors, thought long lost and locked away.

The evil sorceror Ezarine had gotten his hands on the book and summarily gone insane. He was captured by illithids and dragged to the underdark and never heard from again. 500 years passed and the book was then mentioned in the journal of another wizard who had committed suicide after reading it. That wizard’s apprentice became a tyrant far to the southeast, in distant lands, owing to the dread power of the book, but was eventually taken out by a necromancer of superior power, who seized the book. From there it had become lost to time, until now. We told him we had found it in the library of Lolath (see 4.4.1). He asked if we had killed her and Menka replied that no, she was not present while we were there.

Father Amon offered to train Menka for no charge in exchange for this book. Cathal was not fully comfortable letting go of the book and putting it back into circulation. He became even less enthused when Amon told him that, as a denizen of the Wizards’ tower, he would be required to let them read it as well. This made Cathal even more anxious about giving it up. Amon reminded Cathal that the book would be safer here than it would be “don’t take this wrong, but in the backpack of an adventuring party heading into the South to do battle with Set and those from outside who should not be named.”

The knight agreed with this but asked for a boon in return. He told Amon of the book Bretha Dein Checht he and Seamus were in search of, and that it was rumored to be held in a library of Thoth somewhere in the South. Could Amon write some sort of letter of forbearance the knight could use to take this book from the library? It was, after all, sacred to his faith.

Amon agreed to write just such a letter, though he warned Cathal that while the letter would not guarantee access, it would at least add some formal weight to his claim. Cathal assented and Father Amon took possession of the Book of Horrors. Amon would give this letter to Menka during the latter’s training.

We returned to the common room of the Inn and had dinner with the High Priest. Menka asked Amon about the library he had seen in his dream quest with the Ibis while at Creel’s tower. Was he seeing the library in the temple under the sands? Amon said, no, by Thoth, Menka had been treated to a vision of the true library of Thoth, a sacred place run by the god himself and not necessarily on this plane. A rare treat, indeed. Parenthetically, he mentioned that many adventurers had traveled to the sunken temple and returned - and many, not - and that we may find sections of it pretty well picked over.

Cathal mentioned the chime we had destroyed under Creel’s tower, and we told him about the chimes described in the Phipps’ letter (see 4.15.2). He said it was possible such a thing lay under the temple. The lowest levels of the sunken temple contained connections to several other “places”.

He also told the party that we had earned Set’s wrath, and vengeance was sure to be at the top of the god’s mind as we traveled south. Thoth generally stayed out of the affairs of other gods, though Amon suggested, that we seek support from Osiris and Ra and any other gods who would listen. This was familiar advice, and well taken.

Father Amon finished his drink, bade us all farewell. Menka would see him again early the next morning.

Time To Head Back#

Day 10.

This was the end of training for Menka and Cathal. The Temple of Hidden Light was able to add 5 charges to the Staff of Curing, and 3 charges to Flint’s Periapt of Health. Gracious, indeed!!

We made ready to saddle up and bugger off, paying 5 pieces of gold to get our horses back and then, wrangling the drunken monk, we made ready to leave the Hall.

Bruug emerged from the Customs House as we approached the entrance to the Road of Lanterns. We halted for a bit of a chat. He questioned our profits while in the Hall directly. Not one of us had made any monetary profit while in the Hall, and that was the end of that.

The enormous, hulking ogre then asked the party if we had seen a band of ogres in the hills at the other end of the road. Menka fibbed merrily, disclaiming any knowledge. Cathal experienced a brief facial tic but said nothing. We took our leave of Bruug and set out upon the Road of Lanterns.

The demon statues watched us intently as we traveled the Road, toward the surface. A lone rider approached us from the other direction, hooded and clad in black. He rode by, and a feeling of dark dread filled the area. The air got distinctly colder, and the light dimmed as he passed. We continued uphill and looking back, saw that the rider had disappeared, utterly. We put spur to horse and continued our ascent.

We emerged into blazing sunlight, at high noon. After the copper lanterns it was a welcome change. We rode without incident to Farley’s Ferry and made the trip across. On the far side, the old man looked like hell after a night on the slash. The monk poured him a drink and, somewhat revived, he said “you Hibernians are all good lads!”. Menka paid him 12 pieces of gold for the ferry ride. A ridiculous price but then, we’d be screwed without him. He continued to scowl and to totter. We rode on.

High peaks lay to the northeast and we headed in that direction. Up the hills and through the forest, we made it to Westkeep without incident. We spoke briefly with the Captain. He was crankier than usual and rather sober. We would know why a bit later on in this adventure. He did tell us that Elena was still in town. We asked after a creature under the description of Kyril and the Captain had not seen him.

Cathal suggested we check in with Auntie T. She was, as usual, about as friendly as active hemorrhoids, although she did tell us that Kyril was away attending to other matters. We asked her to send our greetings if he returned. She ignored us, though as we left she did tell us to be kind to nature as we returned to Markheim. She said it in Gaelic which Menka could not understand, just to be that extra little bit of a twat.

We left Westkeep late in the afternoon, riding at length rode into a misty moor. The trail we followed lead directly into the moors. Something large squished through the watery area and Menka, hoping to outrun whatever it was, bolted on his horse. He rode ahead, directly into the arms of a shambling mound.

• intiative win
• Menka hit the 8’ tall pile of branches and rotting vegetation for 9 points
• he got hit for 15 points and became engulfed in the thing, along with his horse
• initiative win
• Menka’s horse broke free but he did not, and he began to suffocate, taking 5 more
• Seamus leapt of his horse and attacked but his attacks had no effect
• Cathal on the other hand sliced the thing tice for 43 points of damage
• initiative win
• Cathal sliced the thing again, destroying it
• Seamus wrenched Menka free as the massive creature fell into a heap of rotting leaves
• shambling mound, 48 hp

Cathal laid his hands upon Menka, getting the priest back to (50/54).

We continued onward. Cathal had a bad feeling as we approached a large, mysterious mound. We gave it a wide berth but still the paladin felt the same sense of foreboding for a mile around. On the far side of the mound we crossed a river and then ascended into the hills. It was getting near dark and we decided to camp for the night.

We camped in the lee of a large cliff face. Menka, on first watch, heard hooves clattering on stone far above. He woke the others just in case, but no threat seemed imminent, and Cathal detected no evil, so the rest continued. Cathal would later inform Menka laughingly that he had been spooked by mountain goats.

The rest of the watches went off without incident, though the monk might have scaled the walls in search of a date. We crunched through some iron rations and saddled up.

Traveling uphill again we entered the clearing with the burned out caravan. Cathal checked the cairns and they seemed to be intact and undisturbed. All the carvan’s boxes and supplies were gone, collected by some unknown force. The wagons had either been pushed off to the side of the road, or intact parts had been taken. The gnoll and fog giant compound was off in the distance. We did not check in.

Trolls and Giants#

We continued into the hills. Paths lead off the trail as a nervous goblin stepped into the road. In guttural common he told us “your money or your life, though probably your life, too”. We told him to fuck off and a large rock sailed over Cathal’s head as a hill giant emerged behind the goblin. Cathal squealed with delight.

• initiative loss
• 3 trolls materialized around Seamus and fell upon him, doing 30 points of damage (61/78)
• Menka rode toward the trolls to help out Seamus, praying to Thoth
• Cathal leapt forward on horseback and attacked the hill giant, hitting it for 33 points
• Seamus pummeled one of the trolls with his Ring of Power
• initiative tie
• Seamus hit the same troll thrice with his Ring, killing it Bruce Lee style; it crumpled to the ground
• Menka got clawed by a troll and missed his attack
• Seamus got bitten and clawed again and bled profusely
• Cathal sliced the giant again twice for 37 points, dropping it
• the goblin had fucked off long ago
• initiative loss
• a rock sailed over Cathal’s head again, thrown by a giant at the top of the short cliff
• Cathal spurred his horse at the cliff and used his Ring to jump off the horse and leapt toward the hill giant, dressed up like the Indian from The Village People
• the knight hit the hill giant for 31 points, feathers flying
• Seamus got bitten again (34/78)
• Menka got clawed for 8
• the priest hit back for 8 points
• Seamus hammered another of the trolls for 30 points, though it remained upright
• initiative tie
• Seamus missed, thrice, though he got bitten and clawed for 22 more points (12/78)
• the hill giant missed Cathal
• Menka killed the troll Seamus had just pummeled, praise Thoth!
• Cathal sliced into the giant again, killing it, and getting blood all over his feathers, though his makeup did not run, praise Diancecht!
• the downed troll rose shakily to its feet
• initiative motherfucking tie
• Seamus slammed the newly risen troll for 12 points and it dropped again
• Menka got clawed and bitten for 12 more points (29/54)
• seeing the sorry state of the monk and the priest, Cathal leapt from the top of the cliff face into the middle of the troll battle, feathers all a-flutter
• he slashed the healthy troll for 30 points, chopping its head off

All 3 trolls were down. We swiftly dragged them into a pile and Menka lit a torch. Covering them liberally in a vial of oil, he lit the corpses on fire. Cathal continued to hack at the trolls as Menka got the fire going. It was grim work, but soon the heap of troll parts was on flame. Like Dzialo.

Hill giant and troll battle!

• hill giants 42, 39 hp
• trolls 38, 36, 33

Seamus healed himself and Cathal also laid hands upon the monk, getting Seamus back to (37/78). Cathal, Seamus and Menka all laid on the healing and monk and priest were greatly refreshed.

Cathal (75/75) Menka (54/54) Seamus (70/78)

A path lead upward off the trail and Seamus and Cathal followed it, in search of loot. It was worth it. A large cavern stood in the cliff face. Menka joined them and within the cavern we found more crates and boxes of supplies bearing the markings of the merchant’s guild. We found a portrait of Maeve packed in one of the crates and Cathal stuck it in his haversack.

We also found 3 intact mugs and a small copper box, covered in a slight patina from exposure. The copper box contained a small silver harp, the holy symbol of a priest of the Norse god Bragi, the god of song. It also contained some ceremonial incense. Menka stashed the copper box and Seamus grabbed the mugs.

Searching the area we found a large stone slab nearby. It took the knight and the monk working together to move it. Underneath, they found a cache of coin!!

Hill Giant and Troll Loot!

• small copper box from the priest of Bragi
• 3 mugs
• 1,722 gp

We also found a crate of candles and a box containing 15 flint and steel. Seamus tied them to the pommel of his horse, intent on returning them to the good use of society, somewhere.

It was high noon. We continued to ride into the mountains. We thought it to be another full day of riding to get to Markheim so we decided to camp again for the evening. Menka prayed and cast cleanse upon himself, praise Thoth! Otherwise the evening passed without incident. Seamus gained 3 more points, yawning and pouring himself a pint.

Leif the Red Yellowbelly#

We hoped to be to Ninax’ blockhouse by night fall. We rode off hellbent for leather through the hills. A large mounted group approached us. We came to a halt and parleyed for a bit. Their leader, one Leif the Red, bid us hello and, eyeballing the crates of supposed loot strapped to Seamus’ horse, thought to give us the same “money or your life” spiel the goblin had given us, earlier. We bridled and Cathal drew his weapon, stepping his horse toward Leif. The paladin assured Leif that the red haired Vanirman would be among the first people killed if he tried it, and one of Leif’s group trotted forward to talk him down and diffuse the situation.

It worked and Leif assured us that no offense was intended. Cathal bridled afresh and told Leif that robbery was definitely offensive. The band of robbers made their excuses and then faded back into the hills.

We continued on our way and made it to the blockhouse. We informed Ninax about Leif and his band of merry assholes and he grunted and said he knew the group, and he would increase his patrols. He then bid us stay the night at the blockhouse and journey to Markheim in the morning. We ascented, looking forward to hot food, cold drink and a warm fire.