Devil inside, devil inside. Every single one of them a devil inside...

After finishing up provisional runs to Sasserine and Monmurg, the party returns to Farshore. The previously feebleminded Jakara has arrived in Farshore with a letter from his master, Notlus Innersol. Vesserin (Farshore Chaplain), Lavinia, and the Olman liason to the chiefs of the seven villages, Miahuaxochitl, bid the party to help the Pelorian priest Noltus Innersol.

Noltus was reaching out to the Olman villages on the central plateau, hoping to turn their worship of Tonatiuh into worship of Pelor. He was also interested in the village of Mantru, which lies deep in the heart of the central plateau. It is also in this area where the vile skinwalkers are rumored to exist.

Vin immediately volunteers the party for the task of forming an expedition to the central plateau and seeking the Pelorian encampment to help Notlus Innersol. Rudolph jumps at the chance to return to the isle and search for the Dread Forge, and Daria strikes with a well placed poke to a half-sleeping Ortho.

The party journeys into the heart of the Isle of Dread and finds the causeway onto the central plateau. A roaming band of fell monkey demons attacks the party prior to ascending up to the causeway. The battle is quick, and the party is reminded of what wet monkey smells like.

Nesta finds a trail, and after a couple of hours, discoveres the crude huts of the Pelorian village. The village is mostly trogylodytes. Trog high priest of Pelor, Rissashtak, chieftan of the Pelorian camp greets the party and explains how Notlus has been missing for the past several days. There is great concern among the village about his well being. During the dinner conversation, a surprise visitor, Notlus Innersol. He looks surprised to see the party. The village greets the returning Notlus and his cohorts, the party is obiously suspicious of the returning group.

Before the moment passes, Noltus takes a cheap shot and lands a rounder on Vin's chin. The returning party begins to change shape. Horrible and demonic they assault the party. Even the dog morphs into a giant demonic beast. The battle opens with melee all around, Vin has a slight bout of paralysis. Daria and Rudy get scared and flee while one of the skin walkers begins to hurl spells at Ortho. As the party regroups the skin-walker mage hurls a couple of fireballs at the crowd. Slowly the battle breaks in favor of the adventurers.

Rudolpho makes a magnificant charge only to be paralyzed in his last step. He hears someone else yell, "Do I have to do everything around here." The skin walker mage disappears, but the party has won their victory.

==========
Session Characters: Ortho, Daria, Gwendelyn, Vin, Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr, Nesta
Session Loot: +1 disruption heavy mace, ring of freedom of movement, clerical vestments, wooden holy symbol of Pelor, a small pouch of very strong coffee.

The Story of Ortho, the missing post

===This should have been posted somewhere in Aug 2007===

Ortho is from a family of Grey Elves that have been friends of Lavinia's family for 2 generations. He decided to attend the school for magical studies in Sasserine and took on a job as consultant for Lavinia's parents. He works in the background at the castle and keeps a low profile around town. He knows many people in Sasserine but they believe he is just a messenger.

Two generations ago Lavinia's family bought the farm out of debt where Ortho's father Tempur Pedic, a renowned narcoleptic fire mage, burned down his farm when he fell asleep casting an enlarged maximized fireball at a strange golem-like creature emerging from the cucumber patch. After moving north, he also founded a cult of Elementalist dreamers who seek revelations in dreams using a special magically created memory-foam to sleep on. One day, Ortho hopes to buy back the farm and continue his father's work in the old abandoned tower.

==========
Ortho's Diary entry 1, ====Posted as July 5, 2007====

I have been sent along on a journey to keep an eye on Avner. Lavinia expected he would meet with trouble on the voyage because of his demeanor. She was right as usual. Some of the crew developed a dislike for him immediately and treated him badly. It is my job to see that Avner makes it to his destination alive and I had to keep my purpose secret to succeed. In the last town a couple of our crew began looting and turned on Avner. They thought they had killed him but I managed to rescue him from a burning building and sneak him to one of the other buildings where he was tended to by a village healer. I remained on the ship with Rudolpho and Daria to monitor their behavior and to keep them from being suspicious of Avner's survival. I deplore working with these barbarians but they are tools I must use to reach my goal.

I will confide in Vin Icemark if I require assistance. He appears to be smitten with Lavinia however and I will remain distant to monitor his behavior till I'm assured he has no ulterior motives.

May the Fates see this journey to an end soon.

Return to Monmurg

The party regroups at Farshore after four days of sailing around the Isle of Dread. Ortho and Z teleport the party to Monmurg. Z reminds the party to keep a low profile as the Hold of the Sea Princes is under the influence of the Scarlet Brotherhood and spies are everywhere. The Scarlet Brotherhood and the Crimson Fleet are rivals, and neither are friends of the party.

The cannon is happy to see the party, and to hear of the demise of both the Scarlet Brotherhood's base camp and the destruction of the ancient temple of the Demogorgon. After hearing the description of events and of the magical anvil, Riesaru identifies the artifact as the Dread Forge. It is a terrible device that enables a spellcaster to create any item by magically supplying the necessary knowledge and power (item creation feats and XP) as long as the user has sacrificed enough victims on the forge to power it. It is this evil item that must be recovered and destroyed. According to the current divinations, the forge remains somewhere on the Isle of Dread. And Tellax will undoubtedly begin using it again to reestablish his cult. Riesaru does not know why the Death Knight, Lord Khayven of Rax has traveled so far to the Isle or why he needs the aid of the Dread Forge.

For bringing the demontainted items to be destroyed, The Third Canon of Flaggran is willing to pay each party member 4000 gp in addtion to the 10000 gp for destruction of the base, and raise Rudolpho. Rudolpho (and Vin) are still compelled to recover and destroy the Dread Forge, of course. Riesaru is also sending an emissary by ship to Sasserine to help future events unfold in the right direction.

The party teleports to Sasserine for a brief shopping run, some ale drinking, and other activities...

==========
Party Loot: 14000 gp for each PC. The party also recovers 13300 gp of raw gems and valuable minerals from the bags in the Demogorgon's temple.

XP Standings

Rudolpho advances to 13th level, when he is truly resurrected. Nesta and Vin are within extra credit of going up. Others are closing in soon, maybe within an extrodinary effort of extra credit.

Level 13: Rudolpho, Z
Level 12: Nesta, Vin, Gwen, Hjalmgerdr, Daria, Ortho
Level 11: Chiri, Medea, Druugen, Spanky, Newt.

==========
XP awards:

updated character sheets electronic, e-mailed by Thursday 12/04/08 11:00pm = 500 xp

updated character sheets paper, submitted by Sunday 12/11/08 1:00pm = 350 xp

updated backup character sheets, submitted by Friday 12/05/08 noon = 1000 xp and major magic item for backup character

character diaries/logs/plans/ambitions for the two weeks of downtime for the party, by Friday noon = 100-400 xp

npc character sheets = 100-400 xp, I have several that need sketched out.

kidnapping Jason Cunningham for the next gaming session = 5000 xp
creating a diversion for Tracy, Missy, and Sarona = 5000 xp
recruiting a hot sexy chick to play serving maid during the game = 10000 xp
getting Monty Cook or Ed Stark or Bruce Cordell to write a personalized Savage Tide side-trek adventure = priceless

Hey Hey We're the Monkeys!

The exploration of the foul temple continues, as the party traverses the pit and proceeds into the next chamber. Daria and Rudy scout ahead and discover a well, and a moment after, four large armored baboons rush out of the side corridors and charge the party. Rudy charges, and the party engages in combat. Making quick work of his monkey, Rudy discovers the fiendish octopus living in the well. Always one for a good wrestle, the barbarian allows himself to be grappled. The noise of combat draws four troglodyte priests and two large war apes wielding swords. The battle continues on, with the party eventually triumphing over the temple denizens. Daria spends a bit of time milking the octopus.

Though well equipped, the temple residents appear to be living in almost squalid conditions. A search of their dwelling chambers reveals nothing except the stench of monkey and trog. Exploring a back passageway, Daria discovers a glyph trap, and it is quickly discharged. The passage way continues around and opens midpoint in a large hall. The adjoining chambers house more large monkeys and a troglodyte priest with is baboon assistant. Daria draws a bead on the biggest monkey and knifes 'em good. The battle collapses into the middle of the chamber quickly as the party brings their might to bear against Garag, the Cannibal, Khelm and Satonga. Again, the temple lieutenants are not enough to repel the party from the mighty Demogorgon's unholy shrine and the party is victorious.

Rudy is completely dissatisfied with the lack of loot, and presses on down to a set of double doors. Exploring the caverns beyond, the rest of the temple appears to be abandoned. Only one chamber has anything significant inside, but that was a pile of well used furs (smelling of trog) and some rudimentary furniture. A careful search concludes there is no loot to be had, and the party presses on to the next set of double doors.

The doors open revealing a large cavernous room. Sacks and boxes are along the right wall, and left, large wooden benches lined up in parallel. At the far side of the room, a large statue of the demogorgon stands behind a bloodstained altar. A robed troglodyte priest stands to the left of the altar, a gargantuan war ape to the right. Sitting in the pews, a heavily armored skeletal figure looks over to the party and stands up slowly. Far off in a corner on the right wall, under a glowing red light, a large rune covered anvil glows eerily with heat.

The skeletal figure raises his arm in a gesture to the party, and says "Hold, intruders! You know not what you interfere with! These creatures have no business with you, save that you have attacked them. I, Lord Khayven of Rax, have no interest in fighting you at all. Begone, and I will spare your lives." The party offers to leave, taking the anvil. The high priest troglodyte hisses at the party with the mention of the anvil. An unknown caster hurls a feeblemind spell at Ortho, and with that combat ensues.

Vin and the gargantuan monkey meet in the middle of the room. Ruddy dashes in, Nesta fires arrows at the undead knight, and Daria slips into the melee. The statue of the Demogorgon comes to life and moves briskly into the middle of the room. Tellax, high priest of the Demogorgon, hurls a blasphemy spell that stuns most of the party. The next round is brutal as the temple leadership pounds the party without reprisal. As combat rages on, Vin is the first to fall as the Great Beast rends the paladin into a lump of armor and flesh. Lord Khayven moves across the room and slowly moves the anvil into a giant sack after laughing Nesta's hail of arrows.

Spells fly and the battle limps along as the party struggles to find its footing in the battle. Hjalmgerdr revivifies Vin and Daria distracts the great beast with deadly sneak attacks. The unknown caster appears between the alter and the anvil, a baboon with sorcerous abilities. Tellax flame strikes the back of the room, leaving Ortho a bit woozy. Finally, after a few rounds of concentrated effort, Nesta's hail of arrows and Daria's biting dagger. The Great Beast falls, and Rudy is able to focus his entire rage against the Demogorgon stone golem. With the center of the room no longer dominated by the Great Beast, the party scrambles after Lord Khayven to thwart his efforts to pack off the anvil.

Another well placed flame strike by Tellax and Ortho crumples, other party members are strained as Lord Khayven continues his work with impunity. Rudy charges the undead knight and takes a brutal lump as he swings into range. Rudy hammers the knight but Lord Khayven's reprisal attack is truly devastating. Rudolpho falls after three powerful swings from Lord Khayven's chilling blade. Hjalmgerdr is faced with a difficult choice, but decided to revivify Ortho to avoid moving near the dread knight. The party dispatches the baboon sorcerer, Shamok, leaving only the high priest and the dread night defending the temple and the magical forge.

The undead knight summons a fiendish steed, and it picks up the bag with the anvil. Tellax summons a demon and retreats behind the altar. The party begins assaulting the steeds, and Nesta takes aim at the high priest. Tellax creates a wall of stone around the undead knight sealing him off from his assailants. The party tries to get past the barrier, as two members of the party focus on the priest. With Rudolpho's body trapped inside the barricade, Vin looks for a way over the wall, but finds that Lord Khayven and his steed are completely enclosed in stone. Nesta contines to assail the priest with arrows, as the party tries to deal with the stone wall. The summoned demon is destroyed by the party as the high priest plane shifts away. With all immediate threats gone, the party suspects that the undead knight has fled as well.

After a long and arduous effort the party opens the wall, Lord Khayven and the anvil are gone. Rudy's body is still crumpled on the ground, the party gathers him and the sparse contents of the main temple and heads back to the Sea Wyvern.

==========
Session Characters: Ortho, Nesta, Vin, Gwendelyn, Hjalmgerdr, Ruldolpho, Daria
Session Loot: 3 - potion of cure serious wounds, 8 - wands of cure light wounds (20 charges each), 2 - cloak of resistance +1, gauntlets of ogre power +2, helm of wisdom +2, ring of invisibility, wand of cure light wounds (35 charges), lesser rod of extended meta magic, amulet of natural armor +1, bracers of health +2, 3 vials of fiendish octopus ink.

The value of the "demontainted" items will be determined in a future post.

The Wreck of the Wailing Sail

The legend lives on from the Olman on down
of the big bay they called, "Gitche Gumee."
They bay, it is said, never gives up her dead
when the skies of Ready'reat turn gloomy.
With a load of raw mithril ore three tons more
than the Wailing Sail weighed when empty,
that fair ship and crew was a bone to be chewed
when the "Gales of Ready'reat" came early.

Sailing up coast, the watch eyes a pillar of smoke off in the distance. Vin and his steed spy ahead of the Sea Wyvern. The smoke is rising from a small village, a ship is wrecked by the dock, and fire burns over all. The party anchors the ship away from the dock, and walks the rest of the way to shore. Two gargantuan crabs, apparently drawn by the scent of death, emerge from the depths and attack the party. Battling by the broken hulk of the Wailing Sail, the party brings down the monsterous beasts.

Exploration of the Wailing Sail reveals a few interesting items: a ceramic jar of "Kongu's Kosher Pickles of Power", and a few silken black leotards similar in size and crafting to the one recovered from the battle dancer with the skeleton sewn onto it.

The village was deserted, most buildings were burning save two. Exploring the first one revealed a pile of dead bodies, dress in the garb of the Scarlet Brotherhood. Most of the bodies showed tremendous slashing wounds. In the other building, Daria discovers a swarm of undead lead by a cleric of the Scarlet Brotherhood. Spells fly as the party closes in on the red-robbed priest. In defense, the priest throws up a wall of blades surrounding him completely. Vin bravely jumps through the blades to deliver a blow to the Scarlet Brother. Weakened by the whirling defense, Vin is struck down to one last breath of life. The party continues it's assault on the priest, but Vin manages to strike him down with a final effort.

Nesta discovers tracks of several large, heavy apes moving around the base then following the trail to the cave. Approaching the entrance, Daria explores the entrance and deenergizes several glyphs. One summons a fiendish ape, which is quickly dispatched.

The party discovers a large ceremonial room, and pillars engraved with three enterlocking triangles. Exploring the door opposite the entrance, Nesta triggers a Symbol and many party members are drained of strength. Even the resiliant Daria lays helpless with all of her strength gone. Hjalmgerdr restores the party after a bit of a break, and high adventure lay ahead.

==========
Session Characters: Ortho, Nesta, Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr, Vin, Gwendelyn, Daria
Session Loot: +1 full plate, +1 heavy steel shield, amulet of natural armor +1, +1 heavy mace, masterwork heavy crossbow, gloves of dexterity +2, periapt of wisdom +4, jeweled holy symbol of Wee Jas (1000gp), 500pp, one jar of Kongu's Kosher Power Pickles (heroism as potion, 10 pickles, gnomes get additional +1).

The Story of Gwendelyn

Letter of Introduction

Bards Guild of Sasserine
Master Bard Ob Iwan Knobie
Minsteral of the Fith Road
Songster of the Jedway
Keeper of the Ritual Songs of TaNaboo

Dear Master Bard

As a matter of formal introductions, I am Gwendelyn Maruth Erastine Sembolojan Andantino, first daughter of Malanfar Saitekal, son of Milflan Sysirian, son of Muntilo Sandorano, son of Meutonio Silistina, son of Milano Salsarian of the House Andantino. and Gwenivian Paliranto, daughter of Gwruiron Falentass, daughter of Gwminoa Khaferista, daughter of Gwishena Impireoan, daughter of Gwinapenne Rediminie of the House Sembolojan. I was born on the first anniversary of the death of my oldest brother, Maleneer Sitalken.

According to the last songs he penned in his journal, as it was returned to me through the bards guild, my brother, Maleneer Sitalken, was traveling with and recording the exploits of a party of brave knights and wizards on a noble quest to free their people from the clutches of an evil dragon. Much of the journal had been damaged, and some appeared to be missing. Many questions remain regarding my brothers death.

All my life, I have worked to ready myself for this journey that would lead me to learn the circumstances surrounding my brothers death and his wonderful songs that have been lost. When I came of age, I joined the local Bards guild hall and began studying my craft under the famous Gnome Bard, Richolen Littledon Libarata Tigfriedroy Meltormae. While I learned much from him, one of the most important lessons was that experience is the greatest teacher. So, I left the guild hall after completing my apprenticeship and began traveling the roads guided by my search for information about my brother. I also have been tasked by my mothers clan to investigate the status of some distant cousins who, last we heard, were successful produce merchants in Sasserine. If possible I am to locate any descendants, including an 'unusual' son of which nothing more is known.

Please be aware that I have accepted employment with Lavinia Vanderborens Estate as party historian in the search organized to find her brother and to resupply the Vanderboren colony of Far Shore. In my absence, please hold any information which may arise regarding my brother, Maleneer Sitalken Andantino, or information on other clansmen of mine which may be living here in Sasserine, for me until my return.

May your Voice be true
and your Tune carry far

Gwendelyn Maruth Erastine Sembolojan Andantino
First Bard of House Andantino
Historian of the Clans

XP Standings

Gwendlyn, Hjalmgedr, Daria, and Ortho have advanced to level 12. Chiri, Medea, Druugen, Spanky, and Newt have made 11.

12th level: Nesta, Rudolpho, Vin, Z, Gwendlyn, Hjalmgedr, Daria, Ortho

11th level: Chiri, Medea, Druugen, Spanky, Newt

Updated character sheets (reflecting the recent advancements) e-mailed, mailed, faxed, or delivered to me are worth 300xp.

Can You Hear Me? Can You See Me?

The party returns into the depths of the Isle of Dread, to the strange twisted city of Golismorgia, searching for the artifact that holds the cerulean curtain in place. Resuming their exploration past the ziggurat, the group travels around the cavern clockwise until they are faced with trouble.

An injured purple worm proved no match for the hearty band, as well as two strange liquid constructs. Only after regrouping did the party find the location of the artifact, Tlaloc's Crater with Tlaloc's Tear deep inside.

Carefully exploring the crater, the party finds strange mold and fungi present. As they begin to examine the pool of liquid in the bottom of the creator, a cold of cold strikes them suddenly. The party scrambles, stumbles, and fumbles but cannot get a viable target to combat. The unknown entity toys with the party for several rounds, hurling spells at the hapless adventurers.

Finally the creature make a move to devour Nesta's brain, and draws enough attention where the party can finally direct their efforts. Combat drags on until Ortho gets a lucky shot with a polymorph spell and that allows Vin's griffon to finish off the Neh-Thalggu Scion. With the death of the vile aberation, Rudy returns to his statue chopping happiness and makes quick work of the statue in the middle of the pool.

The whispers of the olman spirits rise up, then become silent. The cavern trembles and the roar of running water can be heard in the distant. With the oncoming tide, and the presence of the soon-to-be-awakended abloleths, the party makes a steady trek back to the surface and to the Sea Wyvern.

Back aboard the ship, Z delivers an urgent message. Riesaru Bonoro, 3rd Vector and High Priest of Fharlanghn in Monmug, has aquired information that the Scarlet Brotherhood is operating a secret base near ruins that may contain the artifact he has commissioned you to acquire. He bids you to make haste to the bay near the Lost Citadel on the western side of the island. For destroying the Scarlet Brotherhood's base, in addition to aquiring the artifact, Riesaru is willing to pay each party member 10,000gp.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Ortho, Daria, Vin, Gwendlyn, Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr
Session Loot: none

XP Awards

Daria and Nesta get the 500xp bonuses for being such loyal OGGoO readers.

Hjamgerdr and Ruldolpo get 1000xp for updated character sheets submitted by the deadline.

Updated character sheets submitted by 12:00pm Sunday 11/9/08 will be worth 400xp.

From the Diary of Vin IceMark

Dearest Lavinia,

On our long journey to, and in my time here at Farshore, I have seen a great many things never I have seen before. As a follower of the Traveling God, I thirst truly, for these new things and I have enjoyed the many wonders and blessings this journey has shown us.

However, as is the way with any journey, many sad and troubling things are also laid out before us. Fharlanghn teaches us that in travel toward the horizon, all things will be revealed to us, and so my faith has spoken to me. I am inspired, nay, compelled to act.

It is the plight of the indigenous peoples of these lands which beckons me to act in some way. After the attack on Farshore and the destruction of the Crimson Fleet, I began searching for a way to put the resources deposited here by evil to use for good. I have pondered and searched for some benefit that I, a lowly Paladin, might be, but should have known that Fharlanghn would provide. Thus, I have proceeded down a path laid out to me in a dream and I believe it will be most helpful in the long term prosperity of the Olman peoples, the Sasserine colonies, and even the native tribes such as the Phanatons. I present this plan and the actions taken according to it as a gift to you, my Lavinia.

My dream laid it out thus. In the harbor, two remaining pirate ships lay wrecked. Discussions amongst our party members, left me with the firmest understanding that the party did not feel it appropriate to waste precious resources on the wrecks nor should the party tie itself to any mercantile activities in any way. This was seen as a distraction to our primary mission. I take this as a comfort that the party seems so single minded to continue in service of House Vanderboren. The eagerness and enthusiasm so strongly expressed by some of the more boisterous party members would give pause to any enemy of Farshore.

With it determined that the wrecks were not considered party property, I set about establishing the team with which the plan would be enacted. Gwendelyn and Z happily agreed to help. Z and the Olman wizard Miahuaxochitl have been training a small number of apprentices and of that small group, two were selected for our team. One for each ship, these apprentices have undergone training from Z in specific repair spells and shipboard combat magics. With these repair spells, and repair damage wands provided by Miahuaxochitl and Z, each of the ships have been refloated and returned to seaworthy condition. Gwendelyn, using the resources of Jeran Emrikad and Farshore records, has recreated a fine set of charts, logbooks and manifests for each ship.

Now with the ships in pristine condition, I turned to the Olman for the next part of the plan. Once I explained the ships purpose, the Olman were most enthusiastic about the venture. From the Olman comes crew, pilots and marine guard for each vessel. Admittedly, much of this crew lacks large ship experience, however arrangements for additional crew and permanent masters were made on our last trip to Sasserine.

The ships will be registered as property of the Order of the Islands Charity and will be based in one of the larger Olman ports. The ships have been painted in neutral colors, but will carry letters of mark and fly flags of House Vanderboren and Clan IceMark. They each will also carry letters of protection from the Gnomish House Andantino, and the Temple of Fharlanghn. In addition, each also carry open contracts from the Bards' guild as couriers.

The purpose of all this is simply to aid the Olman. This will give the Olman a market for their goods, mostly raw materials, and will provide needed income to boost the conditions of the villages contributing the resources. The Olman will organize the cargo's and distribute the returning resources as they see fit. Gwendelyn and Z will visit occasionally to verify cargo and goods are moving as we hope. All funds will be used to advance the indigenous Olman peoples of this region.

The ships bear new names too, my Lavinia. Long may the Paladins Faith and Lavinia's Grace ply the seas. May their crews sail them confidently, defend them vigorously and may Fharlanghn guide them to the horizon and back safely to the comfort of their families.

Your humble and devoted servant
Vin IceMark
Paladin in Fharlanghns service

XP Standings

Nesta, Rudolpho, Vin, and Z have advanced.

12th level: Nesta, Rudolpho, Vin, Z

11th level: Gwendlyn, Hjalmgedr, Daria, Ortho

10th level: Chiri, Medea, Druugen, Spanky, Newt

The first two e-mails congratulating me on finishing chatching up OGGoO get 500 XP, for being such loyal readers.

Current PC sheets, neat and updated, in either electronic or paper format, delivered by Friday 12:00am (that's midnight, Thursday night) are worth 1000 XP.

Updated diaries, party inventory, stories, buildings, character sketches are worth the usual bounty, 50 XP times level.

Pop Goes the Ortho

Exploring the pool where Ulioth emerged, the party discovers a hidden underground cavern. Strange black, oily pools emit a foul stench into the caves atmosphere. Dark pearl-like spheres float atop the inky liquid, tended by a bizarre creature. A singled-eyed squid head atop a long enormous centipede body.

The Bilewretch of Holashner opens spewing forth a black acidic liquid that bursts into flame as it travels through the air. Rudy and Vin get a full dose of burning goo. The bilewretch moves quickly and the party has a hard time finding its ground against the subterranean menace. On the ceiling a few of the party members finally defeat the monster, and it falls into a pool of the black liquid.

Having learned a small bit of caution from his prior experiences with artifacts from elder evils, Ruddy gets a bit of protection from Gerdy and jumps into the pool to pursue any treasure the beast was concealing. But after an exhaustive search, there is nothing found. The head of the beast is severed and the party returns to the top of the ziggurat.

Again the top of the ziggurat is heavily defended. The party, for the first time, passes through the mind control attempts untouched. Invisible nagas, and troglodyte grunts aid the kopru in the defense of their temple. Ruddy wrestles a behemoth kopru again, and is accused of sandbagging in combat. Ortho teters on the edge, and launches a ground-zero lighting ball and takes one for the team. Daria in rare form, is unstoppable, killing and maiming everything in her path. Even a trog suffers a vicious narding as he attempts to pass by Daria.

Combat finally ends when Ruddy stops playing games and finishes off his Behemoth Kopru. A quick looting of the bodies and the party is ready to continue thier exploration of the alien underground city of Golismorga.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Rudolpho, Gwendlyn, Vin, Ortho, Daria, Hjalmgerder
Session Loot: 5 coral statues of the demogorgon (50gp each), 3 large studded leather armor +3, 4 potions of flying, 8 black spheres

Can't Stand Losing, You?

Nesta, again under the evil kopru mind control, starts plugging party members with arrows. A powerful kopru, Ulioth attempts to expel the party from his temple. Ulioth summons a behemoth kopru from an upper chamber to flank the party.

The completly flooded chamber hampers the party's movement. And after exchanging a few top level spells, Ulioth is unscathed and Ortho is drooling like a lizard in his manta-ray form swimming in circles. The party struggles through several rounds of combat, finally Hjalmgedr is able to restore Ortho and the battle begins to break in the party's favor. Battling to the end, Ulioth falls and the adventurers make camp in the room above while the water slowly recedes below.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Rudolpho, Gwen, Vin, Ortho, Daria, Hjalmgedr
Session Loot: large suit of +3 studded leather armor, coral symbol of the Demogorgon (50 gp), +4 chain shirt, +2 anarchic spear, periapt of +4 wisdom, +3 ring of protection, bracers of + 2 health (as amulet), portable hole, golden holy symbol of the Demogorgon (500gp), ivory tiara of coiling snakes and shrieking monkeys (2400 gp), a ruby ring of wizardry II, necklace of adaptation, decanter of endless water.

Big City Fights

After camping in the "Hall of dreamers", four blackfang rhagodessas attack the party before they fully break camp. The party easily dispatches them, and presses back into the depths.

Returning to the twisted alien city of Goligimora, the party enters the ziggurat, this time prepared for the defenders, the party makes quick work of them and descends down into the temple.

The building is alive... much of the ceiling, floor, and walls pulse and twitch with a flesh like demeanor. Two levels down, the room appears to be some kind of throne room. After a bit of exploration, the room begins to fill with water and Nesta is not looking herself...

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Rudolpho, Gwendlyn, Vin, Ortho, Daria, Hjalmgedr
Session Loot: 4 large-sized suits of +3 studded leather armor, 4 coral idols of the Demogorgon.

I Found My Trill, On Alien Ziggurat Hill

The party returns with a revived Rudolpho, to resume the exploration of the twisted, distorted underground city. After a brief survey of the city, the party decides to head toward the ziggurat.

The party scuffles with a couple of patrols, the last of which had several of the vile kopru. The party lost a few members to the mental domination of their foes, but as the kopru's fell their hold on their dominated victims ended as well. The party recovers from that skirmish to resume their exploration of the city.

Arriving at the ziggerat temple, the party discovers that the ziggurat is alive. Flesh exposed portions mixed with worked stone twist the design of the structure. After experimenting with various attempts to get it, Daria figures out the right combination.

Temple defenders rush out, the battle ensues and the party must retreat and recuperate.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Rudolpho, Gwendlyn, Vin, Ortho, Daria, Hjalmgedr
Session Loot: 4 suits large-sized +3 studded leather, 8 choral idols of the Demogorgon (50 gp each).

Raising Rudolpho

It takes two weeks to finish teleporting the party to Monmerg in the realm of the Sea Princes. There, the third canon Riesaru Bonoro ranking cleric in the church of Flaggran, grants Vin's request for an audience. Riesaru is willing to grand the resurrection spell for a deeply discounted price if the Vin accepts the quest to recover a couple of artifacts from an ancient forgotten temple. Rudy will be geased to pursue the task as well.

Riesaru describes the temple markings as three interlocking triangles, and it should be located in the area that the party is currently exploring. Rudy is brought back and immediatly geased before he comes to his senses. After lamenting greatly about the lost gold coin, he drinks heavily and returns to help the party finish its supply run.

XP Standings

Quick Update: Ortho and Daria make 11th level. Hjalmgerdr is within extra credit distance of 11th level.

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...

I'd Buy That For A Goldpiece!

Vertram and Irgzid lead the party to the place where the troglodytes trade the Lords of Dread, slaves for shadow pearls. The room is carved by human hands, and ancient Olman drawings mark the entrance. The room is an inverted ziggurat, and the bottom most levels in the room are flooded. Ruined alters and collapsed columns form a makeshift bridge across the gloomy water.

The ghostly image of an ancient troglodyte priest appears. Irgzid calls out to his 'father' and says
that he has brought forth the heroes. The ghostly image tells the party that there is an artifact holding the Olman spirits captive, and the seas away. In order to drive out the Lords of Dread, the water must return to the depths of these caves and the Olman spirits freed. The party contines on its way, and Vertram returns to his village.

Further down, the party encounters another cavern where there are six of the petrified fish at the bottom of three vermin infested pits. Ruddy jumps down for a peek, and three very large Rhagodessas jump out and attackt he party. Nesta and Irgzid are quite hurt by the vicious bites, Daria and Gwyndelyn finish off two. The third holds on to take another satisfying bite out of Rudy. And eventually the third Rhagodessa falls. Daria finds the skeleton of a Kuo-toa in the bottom of the cave, after Ortho eliminates the vermin with a lighthing ball.

Exploring on, the group discovers the ruins of a giant underground city. Giant fungus and fleshy stone makup most of this bizzare scene. Abberant and unnatural, things are random jumble of freakish devilry. Three violet-glowing columns of fire burn from floor to ceiling in this giant chamber.

While examining the nearest violet column, a patrol group of four kopru and eight troglodytes. Rudy's eyes become a little glazed over as he turns from his original charge and throws his net at Vin. Persistant fire, applied to the kopru, free Rudy's not-so-agile mind. The patrol is quickly defeated after one well placed lightning strike from Ortho.

Attention returns to the violet column, and like a moth to the flame, Rudy swirls around it unable to take his attention from it. Hjalmgerdr's augury forecasts woe, Rudy takes damage by putting his hand in the violet flame. Not to be left out of the fun, Daria tosses a gold piece (won from an earlier bet with Rudy) into the column of fire. "I dare you to run through and pick that up". Unable to let it go, Rudy dashes in and promptly falls dead.

Shooting a couple of tied-off arrows into Rudy's mass, the party drags his body free. The party agrees to retreat, regroup, and return later. Maybe Rudy and Avner are sharing a toast at a bar in the afterlife.

==========
Session Characters: Ortho, Nesta, Rudolpho, Daria, Vin, Gwen, Hjalmgerdr
Session Loot: ring of evasion, 4 holy symbols of the Demogorgon (50 gp each).

XP Standings

Level 11: Nesta, Rudolpho, Vin, Gwendyln, Z
Level 10: Daria, Ortho, Hjalmgerdr, Chiri

Notes - Gwendyln advances to 11. (Daria and Ortho are close to advancing)

Secondary PCs
Level 10: Newt, Kongu, Spanky, Druugen, Medea

For Those Who've Turned to Rock, We Salute You

As the party crosses the cerulean curtain the whispers rise to a roar and return to whispers on the other side. A mile further the passageway branches into a 30' wide tunnel heading south, and a 20' wide tunnel heading west. Irgzid tells the party that to the south leads to where the troglodytes of his village would meet the Lords of Dread. Growing thoughful Irgzid remembers that going west would lead to a maze of chambers and at the far end, a secluded settlement called Barbas.

Irgzid visited it once as a child, before his village forged their alliance with the Lords of Dread. Irgzid engcourages the party to explore there, since it is likely to be the only safe haven in the realm of the Lords of Dread.

Traveling west, the party finds the maze and it is filled with cultivated fungi, some of which are deadly. Nesta successfully keeps the party on a safe path, and as they emerge from the maze 6 hook horrors attack loudly. The characters spring into action and quickly dispatch the horrors.

After things quiet down, an albino human comes forth from the village and introduces himself as headman Vertram Xapatalo. Vertram welcomes them to their humble village, and the party is welcome to stay there. The party rests and recovers, and as the party prepares to leave, Vertram offers to lead the party further, if they would investiate the Cavern of the Sleeping God.

Two miles past the intersection, the party arrives at the Cavern of the Sleeping God. At the far end of the cavern, the curlean curtain crosses the passage. In the middle of the room, there is a strange looking mound of stone shaped like a giant petrified fish. Vertram show the party that the stone is in fact alive, and would like the party to attempt to wake it up and see what they can learn from it.

After much prodding and poking, water and spells, the cracked shell spills enough fluids where the stone becomes silent. While dissapointed, Vertram is thankful to the party for their efforts. The party continues 16 miles to the next cavern.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Rudolpho, Vin, Gwendyln, Daria, Ortho, Hjalmgerdr.
Session Loot: none.

D&D Sunday Cancelled

Our story will continue next D&D Sunday.

I See A Black Ooze Rising

Irgzid leads the party two miles to a cavern he calls "The Burning Pools". He warns that the air in the room is deadly and the pools are acid. The party attempts to run across the room, but before that operation could be completed a very large black pudding attacks. As a painful reminder of the last time the party fought one without ready blunt weapons, the first edge weapon strikes, the pudding splits. Combat plays out similary to the first encounter with a pudding, and eventually the party prevails.

The party travels 8 miles on to a 70' wide cavern, with a hanging forest of stalactites and a deep drop below. There is a narrow ledge that spirals down the wall of the cavern, and hidden in the stalactites is a roper. The beast lashes out and precariously, the party fights and fells the creature. Nesta explores the bottom and discoveres a crumbling petrified forest.

16 miles past the chasm, the tunnel widens into a large cavern nearly 200' across A shimmering curtain of rippling blue light bisects the cavern from left to right and floor to ceiling. The light resembles a translucent membrane that swirls and sparkles like the surface of a pond. The cavern on the other side is visible through this sheen, and the tunnel proceeds around a corner at the far end. Shapes and figures seem to ripple ad writhe along the curtain of cerulean light, and now and then these shapes pass slowly enough to be identified as Olman warriors in battle gear. Their faces forming silent screams and a low whisper fills the room.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Hjalmgerdr, Rudolpho, Vin, Gwendyln, Chiri, Daria, Ortho
Session Loot: 4 large golden idols (3000 gp), skin full of 450 gp worth of trog junk, 11o doses of stannish (15 gp each), 1200 gp, +1 disruption flail, cloak of protection, staff of frost (24).

Note the staff is indeed a staff and not a wand. The base function is similar to the wand of frost entry, but uses staff mechanics instead of wand mechanics.

Village of the Damned Diseased

The party finds the entrance where Vanthus traded with the Lords of Dread. A cave whose entrance looks like a skull. The teeth are skulls impaled on spears, where the skulls eyes glow a sickly green. And sickly is right, as the party moves into the cave they are assaulted by a wave of nausea then a crazed dimetrodon. With part of the party struggling to keep their lunch down, overcoming the guard-dino is difficult.

Moving into the back cavern, four leprous troglodyte zealously fight to repel the party from the cavern, but are no match for the party. These trogs appear to be a strange cult, as the party loots the entrance.

Delving deeper, the party travels four miles to reach a cavern containing a foul-smelling troglodyte village. After a bit of sneaking, the party assaults the cult priests of the leprous trog-god, then loot the village.

The party rescues to prisoners from their cages: Irgzid Uzeye an outcast trog, and Jakara an Olman warrior. Irgzid believes that the village has fallen away from the true worship and the Lords of Dread are behind it. He will help lead the party as far as he knows the way, then he will return to deliver his village from the vile filth affliction. Jakara was in a comatose state, having contracted the disease of the trog village. He only recovers after a remove disease and a restoration is cast. The last thing he remembers is being on a hunting expedition and begin attack by a group of skin-walkers, feral half-demon Olmans who are a scurge in the center of the isle. Jakara leaves to return to his original destination, Farshore.

==========
Session Characters: Gwendelyn, Vin, Rudolpho, Nesta, Hjalmgerdr, Ortho, Daria
Session Loot: [future post]

All That Gitters Is Gold

Emraag the glutton's lair was a collection of water-filled caves, that the party found nearby. A careful exploration of the entrance, the party fought a pair of giant squid guardians. Further in, traps protected the dry passages, while the gutton's mate used the underwater passages to return to the caves after finding her mate slain.

The party makes quick work of the other dragon turtle and finds the nest of the turtle which looks more like a shrine. The process of searching the nest releases a wraith-like creature and the party scrambles to combat the other-worldly entitiy. After all is said and done, the party spends a great deal of time hauling the loot back to the Sea Wyvern.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Hjalmgerdr, Rudolpho, Gwendelyn, Vin, Ortho, Daria, Z.
Session Loot: 9400 gp, 800 pp, platnium sunburst crown (5000 gp), bronze music box w/pearl inlay (2000 gp), mithril statue of two-headed baboon (9800 gp), star ruby (1000 gp), painting of a sailing ship (500 gp), jeweled electrum ring (4200 gp), basalt obelisk w/ bat god symbols (2200 gp), swordbow (6375 gp), foxhide armor (10160 gp), shard of the sun (3500 gp), shirt of chains (4500 gp), amulet of natural armor (2000 gp)

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano (times four)

Dear Diary,

I wish the Crimson Fleet would hurry up & attack.

The big election didn't even happen. Lavinia ran uncontested. It seems that the Scarlet Brotherhood raided Manthalay's Villa, killed him, and then torched the place. Man, I wish I had been there to kill some smugglers. Not that I have anything against smuggling – I just like killing. Everyone needs a hobby.

The towne guard actually captured one of the Scarlet losers skulking 'bout the village. He wouldn't talk and eventually he died under the Daria's questioning.

Meanwhile, all of Farshore is still talking about the impending attack by the Crimson Fleet. I am beginning to doubt that it will actually ever happen! We keep preparing and shoring up the town defenses for battle but nothing seems to happen. I think its all a big ploy to keep Vin safely stuck up Lavinia's arse. Anyway, the main work is left to the junior team, the Jade Dragons - they knew better than to ask me to build towers and walls. I got better things to do.

We actually got back to Sasserine a couple of times this week. Oh, sweet, sweet, civilization at last! (That's saying a lot coming from a barbarian.) It happened when Ortho learned how to magically move us from one place to another instantly. From the wreck of the Sea Wyvern, we moved to the smuggler's redoubt and then, the next day, we moved back to Sasserine.

Let's see – there was Ortho, me, Hjálmgerðr, and Vin. We brought as much loot as we could carry so we could finally sell it. Vin and Ortho had a big, shopping list of crap to buy in town but I had missions of my own.

I gave my dear, sweet ma enough money to finally retire. I figured that fifty pieces of gold should be enough to keep her in rum and gruel for the rest of her life. I also checked my suspicions that my falchion had been claimed by someone else (who then placed it at the false grave at the smuggler's redoubt).

As usual, I suspected wrong. I gotta give up the thinking and just stick to killing. My claim ticket was still in the Vanderboren vault and my falchion was still hanging in the shop from whence I ordered it. Anyway, I sold the claim ticket to some rich wanna-be pirate and recouped some of my investment. All of this raises anther question. Why was there an adamantine flachion with Milano insignia hiding in a fake grave at the smuggler's redoubt. This time, I refuse to think about it. Everytime I catch myself thinking now, I just pull out my falchion and chop something.

Damn! I gotta go chop something.
-R

==========
Dear Diary,

Ok, I'm back from chopping up the local landmark, Raven's Rock.

It WAS an out-of place rock in the middle of the beach that kinda looked like a bird from just the right angle. Now it looks like a crudely-carved fist with an middle finger facing the bay. Maybe I'll pay some phanatons to finish it...

Oh, anyway, while at the Sasserine inns, relating my adventures to the local bards, I heard rumors of a black-sailed fleet causing trouble. I'm just glad that Vin didn't hear any of this or we would be sailing back to Fort Boredom to investigate. I also got word that Antonio Milano was recently seen in some cesspool town called Scuttlecove.

I guess we were in Sasserine for about a week. I tried to hide but, dammit, Vin found me and Ortho magically moved us all back to Farshore. When we arrived, we found out that Slipknot Pete had escaped confinement and Kongu was missing.

Later that day, I noticed that my head hurt and my scalp was itching. I realized that I had a thought forming. I tried to drink the thought away, but it just got worse. Finally, I thunk the thought (kinda like passing an over-sized turd). The thought was this: Someone sprung Slipknot Pete from his imprisonment! Probably it was one of the Crimson Fleet pirates that we impressed in our service. I told Daria what I thought and she began a thorough investigation – an investigation that none of the foreign marines survived.

I was busy ignoring all the crap and snoozing away in my hammock one day when Nesta wakes me up and tells me to suit up and grab my blade cause its time to go to work. Oh boy! I thought that the Crimson Fleet had finally showed up to get the arse-kicking that they deserved. Again, I was wrong.

Apparently, there are troglodytes here on the island that no one has bothered to tell me about and they have been causing trouble for the colony. Troglodytes, by the way, are foul-smelling reptile-losers with no real worth to the world and plenty of good reasons to die.

Anyway, we march through the jungle to the village of these buttholes and I'm ready to get to killing but His Holiness the Reverend Vin decides that he needs to speak with the chief stinker first to try to smooth things over. I must have fallen asleep during negotiations because they seemed to be extremely short. I woke up just as Daria was ham-stringing the chief and all heck broke loose.

It was a short, but fun battle. All but one of the troglodytes were killed and our party sustained no real injuries. I heard later that Nesta tracked down that last loser and got him too. Good!

After the battle, I had some fun at Gwendolyn's expense as she sang her song to heal the wounded. With my left hand, I held my falchion in front of me, diagonally across my chest with the hilt at my left shoulder and the point at my right foot with the blade facing down. With my right hand, I mimicked a lute players movements as if my falchion's blade were a gourd strung with cat-gut. To complete the illusion, I made some noises.

“Ba-da-da, dun-dun-dun, diddle, diddle, ba-da-da, dit-dit-dit, diddle, doot, doot, doot, brum, brum!!!”

I thought I was pretty good - but Gwendolyn didn't seem to appreciate it. I found it so entertaining that I've taken to doing it whenever she starts singing.

Anyway, we made another boring trip to Sasserine. Vin & Gwendolyne got a couple of messages. I don't know what the messages said. I guess I could have read them - but reading makes me real tired.

Once again back here in Farshore, we were treated to a lavish dinner at the Vanderboren estate. After recently being back in Sasserine, the crap they serve at Farshore just didn't seem that good anymore. Regardless of flavor, I ate up all my grub like a pig at the trough hoping to get the heck out of there as soon as possible but I wasn't fast enough and I had to suffer through another round of Vin & Lavinia's toasts.

I sure wish something would happen soon.
-R

==========
Dear Diary,

Vanthus is dead and I didn't kill him!

The Crimson Fleet finally attacked Farshore. Yesterday, a handful of crappy ships suddenly appeared in the harbor. Those loser Olman lookouts didn't do us any good at all! Now I gotta remember to go on a genocidal killing spree when I get the chance to get back to the Isle of Dread.

The ships and the pirate crews were easily dispatched. Our allies, the monkey-idiots, were not much help - but they did stay to fight off the pirates. Nesta was deadly accurate with her longbow. She and Ortho picked off most of the pirates before they could even make it to shore. The only ship that seemed to give us any trouble was a ship full of hideous snake-men.

Anyway, I stayed on shore and that's where Vanthus appeared with a retinue of demon-vultures. Vanthus had changed but I recognized him from pictures that I had studied. He wasn't entirely human anymore. He kinda looked like he got scrambled up with a stingray. So, after killing a handful of pirates that were no challenge at all, I charged into battle Vanthus's little group.

Those demon-vultures were difficult to kill. My mightiest swings with my falchion didn't seem to really hit as hard as they should. It seemed like the wounds that I was inflicting just healed up almost as fast as I could attack. I also noticed that Vin and Hjálmgerðr didn't seem to have that problem.

Anyway, I was still fighting my way through the demons to get to Stingray-Vanthus when somebody cast some spell that sent Hjálmgerðr running in fear and left me fighting alone – which was fine by me, it just meant that Vanthus would get to draw breath for a little longer before I killed him.

When the demons were killed, I finally got to engage Vanthus in combat. Finally I, Rudolpho Milano, would kill the asshole that has caused so many people so much grief. I would avenge Lavinia's parents! Not that I care - but I wanted to beat Vin to it. Heh heh heh.

For a few moments, it was just me & Vanthus one on one. He fought furiously with a sickle, longsword, and inhuman strength. He even stung me with his dopey new barbed tail! I felt some poison - but it didn't really slow me down.

Before too long, that insufferable demon-loser realized that I was getting the upper hand in the fight. But, just as I was preparing to move in and finish him, Vanthus got this strange look of determination on his face. He reached inside his gay little cloak for something.

We'll never know what he was reaching for because, just then, one of Nesta's arrows skewered Vanthus through the neck. Nesta stole my greatest victory! Oh, this isn't over, Nesta.

Out of nowhere, Daria appeared and finished Vanthus off with a vicious slash to the neck that nearly decapitated him. Much as I enjoyed the show (and being showered in Vanthus's blood), I didn't hang around the corpse for long. I quickly engaged and killed the captain of the snake-man boat while Vin and Nesta killed his demon zombies.

After the battle, we got to round up all of the ships. Lavinia had the nerve to claim all of the captured ships in the name of Vanderboren and Farshore. Mystic Z tells me that with his and Ortho's magic, we can recover some of the scuttled ships and claim those for ourselves. I still feel ripped off.

Speaking of ripped off, Right after the battle, Lavina ran to Vanthus's demonic corpse and began searching his hands. She started yelling that 'It' wasn't here. I found out later that she was looking for a Vanderboren ring that should rightfully belong to her. Oh, well. Boo-hoo.

We also gained a bunch of magic loot and found clues as to what Vanthus has been up to since his disappearance. Now, normally, clues leave me bored as hell - but this was different. Nesta tracked me back to the bar and forced me to listen to what the party found out. Vanthus has been trading with some stupid sea monster, some underground losers called the Lords of Darkness, and... MARIA!

That's right, diary, I finally got a lead on the name at the very top of my kill list! Alright! Supposedly, Maria is at the center of the Isle of Dread, or maybe in some caverns beneath the Isle. Doesn't matter - I'll find her and then I'll kill her. And Nesta won't steal this one from me!

Mystic Z has since explained why Hjálmgerðr & Vin had an easier time killing those demons. It turns out that their weapons are blessed, holy, aligned with the good forces or some such crap. Z said that I could have the same blessing bestowed on my falcchion. “Yeah, right!'” I told him. There's no freaking way that I'm gonna get my Milano falchion turned into some pansy paladin blade! No way! Z then told me that I could probably get a blessed oil that would temporarily improve my falchion's effectiveness against daemons. That doesn't sound too bad.

Ortho also found some clues about a big, boring pearl that we ultimately couldn't find. Vanthus must have hidden it too well. I wonder what something like that would be worth.

Speaking of worth, I suggested to Vin that we ransom the recovered ships back to the Crimson Fleet. Vin could also bargain for port and trade rights for Farshore, the phanatons, the Olman,and the Crimson Fleet. But does Vin ever listen to me? No!

Now, Diary, I may have sworn off thinking but I do know a thing or two about pirates and how this crap works. While he's at it, Vin should negotiate free passage for any ship flying the Vanderboren, Icemark, or Milano flags.

That would be cool.
-R

==========
Dear Dairy,

I'm not real sure what just happened...

We're on some stupid mission to bribe some idiot sea monster to let our ships pass unmolested. Lavina sent some chests full of goods and coins plus a statue to bribe the monster with but so far all we've seen is some ancient Olman shipwreck. There was some pathetic loot on board but not much.

Anyway, as we rounded the North-Eastern tip of the Isle of Dread, Daria informed me of clandestine midnight meeting on the upper deck of the Sea Wyvern. I told Daria that, not being on the watch list for that night, I would be snoozing away in my bunk and she could kiss my hairy, unwashed arse. Daria countered that I should come fully prepared for battle because there would be killing involved. Now, that sounded like a plan!

I showed up on deck at the appointed hour to find Ortho, Nesta, and Daria waiting. Daria then produced a scroll sealed with the Vanderboren signet. The scroll was a letter from Lavinia detailing a secret mission known only to Daria until this moment and now known to only the four of us. We were specially selected for a revenge mission to Loserville to get some more payback on the primitives that killed Avner. Specifically, Vin, Gwen, and Hjálmy were to never, ever learn about this mission. I noticed that Nesta kinda rolled her eyes at Daria - but I thought it was cool.

I didn't know that Lavinia had such faith in me! I sure wasn't going to let her down!

Daria had altered the watch list so that she and Nesta were on duty and no one witnessed us convene the meeting. We gathered around Ortho and he magically moved us to Loserville.

There was not much going on at that time of night and we were under some pressure to get the job done and get back to the now-unguarded Sea Wyvern so I ran to the town center and began to sound the town alarm gong while I bellowed obscenities at the top of my lungs.

As a crowd of townsfolk gathered, I prepared for the slaughter that I was about to inflict. Instead, Daria blinked out of sight for an instant and the next thing I know, the chieftain is convulsing on the ground with shards of broken glass stuck in his face & neck. Some greasy, oozy stuff was beginning to spread from the location. Daria started yelling “Now, Ortho, Now!” and the next thing I know, we're back on the deck of the Sea Wyvern.

Funny thing, I could have sworn that I saw Daria throw down another scroll as we left the scene. It must be another secret between her and Lavinia. I'll just pretend that I didn't see anything.

I can't wait until our next secret mission!
-R

The Glutton vs. The Greedy

During yet another famous "Lavinia and Vin" dinner, Lavinia expressed great concerns over the political stability of Farshore. The attack by the Crimson Fleet, the assassination of Lord Manthalay Mervanchi, and a culmination of all of their other struggles, has left the citizens of Farshore demoralized. There is even talk of abandoning the settlement.

But ever the chipper-upper, Vin volunteered the group for an expedition that should raise everyone's morale. Lavinia suggests that appeasing an irritable Dragon Turtle that has disruptions in trading vessels arriving at Farshore. Lavinia intends to offer a tribute or bribe to the beast nicknamed 'the glutton'. But underneath this purpose, the party is to investigate the Crimson Fleet's activities and interests in Gallivant Cove. According to Vanthus' log on the Brine Harlot, he had made several visits to a beach on the south shore of the cove to meet with a group called the "Lords of Dread" and purchase large quantites of "Shadow Pearls". The danger of the pearls was evident at Kraken's Cove. The party makes quick preparations and sets sail for the 5 day journey to meet Emraag 'the glutton'.

Midway in the journey, Daria gathers a select team of party members in secret. She divulges a mission to revisit the quaint village of Renkrue in the isles of Axuxal. Rudy, Nesta, Daria and Ortho teleport back to the village. They ring the village bell, and call forth the residents. Daria hurls a dark sphere at the village chieftain, and the team teleports back to the Sea Wyvern. Vin has a fitful night's sleep.

Arriving at Gallivant Cove, the party summons the glutton. Negotiations breakdown almost immediately and combat ensues. Taking a beating from the glutton, Z charms Emraag and the party regroups and turns the table, eventually slaying the beast. Every dragon has a horde, so the party begins to explore for the location of the treasure.

==========
Session Characters: Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr, Daria, Ortho, Nesta, Z
Session Loot: 750 gp of ancient Olman artifacts, Lavinia's tribute to the glutton (if the party does not return it to Farshore) consists of a statue of Venture Vanderboren (4000 gp), and four chests with jewelry, coins, and waterproof art (16000 gp total).

XP Standings

Level 10: Rudolpho, Nesta, Vin, Z, Daria, Ortho, Gwendlyn

Level 9: Newt, Chiri, Kongu, Spanky, Druugen, Medea

Updated PC sheets are due. Also there are some red shirt character sketches that have XP rewards that need to be done.

Look Who's Coming to Dinner, part 3

The Crimson Fleet had spent some time observing Farshore and its routines. When the party began fortifying the village, the assault plans were modified. With the party's last minute preparations, magical scrying devices were employed to ensure every element of surprise was preserved.

The first wave mainly consisting of the crews of The Hag, Sea Witch's Curse, and The Kraken made an early landing sending several shore party ahead of the ships into the harbor. A spellcaster was flinging fireballs into town, while Nesta's archery made quick work of the crews on the decks of two of the ships. The third was engaged by the Vicious Spanking in ship to ship combat. With the slowing of the first wave, the party was able to quickly counter the shore parties.

The second wave came forth after the initial wave met with strong resistance. The crews of the Stygian Shark and the Brine Harlot made their way to shore while three flesh golems crawled out of the water onto one if the piers . The Stygian Shark moved in closer for better artillery support and several Yuan-ti emerge on its deck. The party scrambled to meet the new threat, with a blur of Rudy's fury, Vin and Ortho flying, Nesta's volleys, and Hjalmgerdr-Gwendyln-Daria-Z filling the gaps.

The defenders of Farshore had held the main assault a line by the docks. The third wave teleported deeper into town, Vanthus Vanderboren and a trio of Vrocks. Vanthus begain howling into town, challenging Lavinia to come forth and negotiate with him. The Vrocks begain dacing while Vanthus tried to lure Lavina, but the Party responded quickly and broke up the gathering even though they managed to summon yet another Vrock. With all of the party now focused on the new threat, Vanthus received some long overdue payback. Rudolpho did most of the softening but Nesta fell Vanthus, and responded to Rudolpho's disgusted look with "Do I have to do everything around here?"

Vanthus falls, and maybe Farshore will get a reprieve from attention of the Crimson Fleet. The party certainly is overdue for some rest and relaxation.

==========
Session Characters: Rudolpho, Vin, Gwendyln, Daria, Ortho, Nesta, Hjalmgerdr, Z
Session Loot: +1 shock dagger, wand of enlarged fireballs (14), +3 mithril shirt, +3 longsword, +1 keen sickle, masterwork dagger, amulet of health +2, boots of speed, 4 gold earrings worth 300gp each, cloak of charisma +4, 10 masterwork studded leather armor, 10 masterwork rapier, 10 masterwork dagger, 10 masterwork light crossbow w/10 bolts each, 500 gp in jewelry and coin.

Lavinia and the town of Farshore reward the PC's with 5000 gp each, for the heroic defense of Farshore.

Sessions: 3/30/08, 4/13/08 and 4/27/08

Look Who's Coming to Dinner, part 2

The embattled residents of Farshore battle the invasion of pirates into their small community. Party members engage the more dangerous opponents, attempting to turn the tide of the assault.

The summary of this battle will be in a future post

Look Who's Coming to Dinner

With all preparations in place at Farshore, the Crimson Fleet still manages a bit of a surprise.

The summary of this battle will be in a future post.

The Wreck of the Sea Wyvern

The emerging powers of Ortho now allow him to teleport great distances. The party capitalizes on the opportunity and makes a resupply run to Sassarine. Members of the party that stay behind continue to prepare for the impending assault of Farshore by the Crimson Fleet.

Repairs are made to the fortifications of the village. Daria receives a letter containing an economically advantageous opportunity, so she runs off like an eager entrepreneur to close the deal. Z and the Jade Ravens organized the population and drill the town militia.

Two days before the election of Lord Mayor of Farshore, Manthalay Mervanchi (Avner's uncle), is assassinated. The town scrambles in anger and terror, a patrol nabs a member of the Scarlet Brotherhood a mile or so outside of town. The Manthalay mansion was burned to ground, apparently in an attempt to cover up the assassination. Interrogating the unrepentant Scarlet Brother ultimately results in his expiration.

Lavinia is elected to Lord Mayor and begins to rally the populace to further action. The celebration dinner is particularly lavish, even Vin gets into the mood and makes the most wonderful sonnet-like toast. Even Ortho looked a little wispy and Rudy managed not to throw-up.

A complaint by some of the farmers near Farshore leads the party to a small village of Troglodytes. The party makes it's best effort to negotiate a solution, but the Trog chieftain says that all will fall before the Two-Headed one. The village was no match for the party, and the infestation was removed from the area outlying Farshore.

Later Captain Spanky arrives stating that some giant sea dinosaur is keeping the repair work on the Sea Wyvern from finishing. The party quickly travels up the Isle of Dread's coast and lands on the reef where the ship is stranded. The elasmosaurus is not the only creature on the ship, a strange squid-like, almost humanoid, creature is aboard the ship. As the battle engages, the squid-man takes control of Rudy and the party must fend off the terrible rage of the Milano clan in addition to the dinosaur and the squid-man. Slowly, the party overcomes the foes and Rudy regains his mind.

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Session Characters: Rudolpho, Vin, Gwendlyn, Daria, Ortho, Nesta Hjalmgerdr
Session Loot: ring of protection +2, amulet of mighty fists +1, dusty rose prism ioun stone, 350gp necklace of shark teeth.

The Who's Who of Farshore

Lavinia Vanderboren (Vin's sweetie), council member and nominee for Farshore Lord Mayor

Lord Manthalay Mervanchi (Avner's uncle) council member and nominee for Farshore Lord Mayor

Professor Hevrik Aldwattle, council member, runs a laboratory.

Vesserin Catherly, council member and chaplain, head of Farshore's chapel.

Telday Syren, council member, and operator of The Apothecary's Infirmary.

Ulvar Kabbanja, council member and militia captain.


Greffold "Redfoot" Fiddlebitter, a male halfling that runs a clayworks with his family.

Dranys Sellis, a male dwarf owner of Sellis' Woodworks and Smithy

Tehrik Arrelion, male human, and huntmaster of Farshore, owner of Tehrik's Tannery.

Malfus Fairwind, male human bard, owner of the inn, The Last Coconut.

Jeran Emrikad, male human, keep of Farshore's hall of Records.

Jade Ravens

Now considered to be the 'B' team by most of Lavinia's associates, the Jade Ravens traveled with Lavinia on the Blue Nixie.

Tolin Kientai (male human ranger-3/fighter-4), a vain and brash, rugged good-looking man.

Zan Oldavin (male half-elf rogue-7), a jaunty flamboyant man who spends a lot of time playing with knives.

Kaskus Kiel (male dwarf druid-7), a lover of mountains and caverns, he is fascinated with the Isle of Dread and would like to do more exploring.

Liamar Teslikaria (female human sorcerer-4/favored soul of Rudd-3), a bit of a wild child that seems to be obsessed with testing her luck.

At Vin and Lavinia's direction, the Jade Ravens have been working on various improvements around town.

Survivors

From the original passenger and crew list of the Sea Wyvern

Captain, Amella Venkalie [deceased, Isle of Dread]
Father Feres [deceased, near South Olman Isle]
Aver Meravanchi [deceased, Renkrue-Isles of Axuxal]
Skald [survivor, Farhore]
Urol Forol [deceased, Isle of Dread ]
Lirith Veldirose [survivor, Farshore]
Tavey Nesk [survivor, Farshore]
Rowyn Kellani , stowaway [deceased, Renkrue-Isles of Axuxal]

6 marines, 4 sailors, 7 colonists. [3 marines, 2 sailors, 4 colonists perished]

Skald, Lirith, and Tavey are now working to help prepare Farsore defenses by participating (and training) with the Farshore militia.

XP Standings

Ortho and Gwendlyn advance to level 9. Daria returns to level 9. Druugen, Spanky and Medea advance to level 8.

Level 9: Nesta, Rudopho, Z, Vin, Kongu, Daria, Ortho, Gwendlyn

Level 8: Chiri, Newt, Druugen, Spanky, Medea

Again, submit your updated character sheets when you advance.

Rudy, Nesta, Vin, Z are closing in on 10.

Rakastasfarians

The party returns to search for the Phanaton village and the crazy shaman Miahuaxochitl. Vin negotiates the aid of the phanatons in defending Farshore from the impending battle. Rudy negotiated some modifications to his heirloom falchion (+1 admantine) to add the berserking quality. (As if he wasn't pissed off enough already.) Daria trades some useless magic sticks for vials of liquid that are probably better off not being mentioned.

The phanatons tell the party about a shrine of the tiger-people that had weapons. The tiger-people are no longer there and the party might find some stuff there. On the way to the shrine, rotting vegetation attacks the party. Ortho holds back his big guns, and victory is gained anyway.

After finding the overgrown shrine, the heroes are immediately attacked by a gargantuan anaconda. Gwendyln provided lunch for the creature, and kept singing in spite of being chewed. With much damage applied the snake finally falls, and Gwendyln survives.

The entrance to the shrine is trapped, Hjalmgerder falls into the brackish water. Several statues are looted from the hall leading into the main shrine.

In the main shrine, flying colorful snake creature named Tonatiuh tells Vin the sad history of his children the Rakastas (tiger-people). The rakastas were preparing to defend from an attack of the skin-walkers, an ancient offshoot of the Savage Tide 1000 years ago. The rakastas weapon stash is free for the party to use in defending Farshore against the Crimson Fleet. Having fulfilled his purpose, Tonatiuh leaves to the outer planes.

Leaving the shrine 6 scouts from the Scarlet Brotherhood savagely attack the party. The Scarlet Brotherhood was not prepared to bring their 'A'-game.

Returning back to the crazy shaman, Miahuaxochitl is not finished yet but will send the weapon with an advance team on phanatons to Farshore. The return trip is slow, since the party is packing several crates of weapons.

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Session Characters: Nesta, Rudolpho, Vin, Gwendyln, Daria, Hjalmgerder, Ortho, [Z]
Session Loot: +1 wounding warclaw (spiked gauntlet), +2 evil outsider bane longbow, +1 holy greatsword, 6 wands of cure moderate wounds (14-9-19-18-25-25), 6 amulets of +1 natural armor, 6 masterwork kamas, 40 masterwork warclaws, 20 masterwork longbows, 600 arrows, 10 masterwork shortspears, 10 masterwork longspears, 10 masterworks javelins. 20 jaguar statues (50 lbs) 150gp each.

Kidnapped!

While the stalwart adventurers were out smiting the terrasque of the tar pit Kongu's body was kidnapped. Reports from the citizenry of Farshore tell stories of dark shadows drifting in the streets, flashes of light, and the smell of brimstone.

What sinister designs have been hatched? What fell powers are extending their grip into Farshore? Why is slop knot Pete is missing?

Only the unfolding of the future will tell...

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano

Dear Diary,

I had the weirdest dream last night.

I remember it as clearly as if it had really happened. The bunch of us were running through some maze-building made of brick walls. We fought off swarms of phantoms that seemed to come from piles of bones oddly placed here and there throughout the labyrinth. For some reason we were frantically looking for a portal that would take us down to the next level. I also remember that Nesta seemed to be a woman on fire. She fired arrows faster than a person could count them.

This is where it gets really weird. I remember being struck by the phantoms and then getting really hungry. Then, as if on cue, we spied a plate of prepared food, completely out-of-place in a corner of the dungeon. Somehow we all thought that the food was all that we needed to heal our wounds. How goofy! Anyway, as Nesta tore through the gang of phantoms guarding the food, she accidentally fired one arrow too many and completely exploded the plate of food with that single shot. Although we were all enraged with Nesta, Vin summed it up when he announced in his ultra-blasé voice, “Elf shot the food.”

It was then that I woke up. Yep, diary, I gotta quit drinking so much just before bedtime.

Anyway, I'm now on the trail of a spellcaster that may be able to make that improvement to my falchion. We returned from the battle with Zotzilaha and won the support of the Olman tribesmen at Tanaroa. From there, we returned to Farshore where Daria had a few words with Slipknot Pete.

After a pleasant chat, Pete divulged that the orb for which we were searching in Rat's End was actually secured to the underside of the Hellfish. HA! That's actually kinda funny but I don't think Daria shares my sense of humor. We recovered the orb (big freaking whoop) and we stored Kongu in the Vanderboren estate until we can figure out hoe to fix him.

We didn't get to rest for long in Farshore before we started on another mission. Captain Spanky was whining that his crew cannot repair the Sea Wyvern without more tar and wouldn't you know it - the locals claim that the only local source of tar is currently under siege from a big, angry dinosaur. To everyone's surprise, I petitioned to take on the mission. As chance would have it, the only local witch doctor that I could track down has been reportedly spending much of his time near the tar pits...

Also while in Farshore, we picked up some kinda miracle girl. Thankfully, I missed the whole boring story but apparently she is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. She stands about as tall as me and she waltzes around in full plate armor with a shiny winged helmet. Apparently, she has now joined up with our crew - not that anyone asked my opinion on the matter. It turned out for the best though, because as we soon found out, this girl is very able to take care of herself.

Anyway, we loaded up and sailed the Viscious Spanking up to the tar pits and encountered a bunch of little monkey / racoon primitive losers (Nesta called them Phanatons) running from dinosaur that we were there to kill. I managed to trip one of the little cowards as he ran past me. Heh heh heh...

Well, we killed the big lizard but not before he nearly bit our new girl in two and then swallowed her whole. Yep, Diary, I figured her for a gonner. The last glimpse I caught of her as she disappeared into the dinosaur's mouth, she was covered in blood and seemed to mouth some unheard prayer. After the battle, when we cut the beast's belly open, out crawled our miracle girl, looking almost unharmed! Someone must be looking over her.

Alright Diary, I must admit that I’ve been saving the best part for last – this new girl goes by the name of Hjalmgerdr Icemark. No kidding – Icemark! Har! har! har! Hey Vin, your mama’s hot! Har! har! har!

Anyway, the little furry losers all wandered off after the battle. Not that they were much help anyway. Of course, there was no sign of this hermit mystic that I had come to find. I asked Nesta to try to track down any humans that have been in the area lately. I just hope that he didn't take up with the furry losers.

-R

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano

Dear Diary,

Ortho won’t shut up.

He keeps warning me that my drow chain armor is going to get me into trouble on down the road. He says that the drow usually do not let their magic items fall into the wrong hands or even leave their underground realm. Most legends agree that what few magic items that have left the underdark have melted away into nothing when exposed to sunlight. And further, the selfish drow take pains that their armor and clothing does not magically adjust to fit any wearer – as my drow chainmail obviously does.

Ortho says that whatever drow made the armor (and sword - and everything else) is dead or at least in serious trouble. He thinks that the guy must have gotten lazy or the stuff just wasn’t finished when we got it. Either way, that loser will pay and the drow are probably out to get their stuff back. Oh well, “Bring ‘em on!” I say.

-R

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano

Dear Diary,

Zotzilaha is dead.

We finished the boring trip from the village of Tanaroa to the volcano without further incident. Mystic Z had the rare foresight to prepare spells to protect us from the extreme heat of the caverns under the volcano.

We soon found the main temple room where a statue of Zotzilaha had its arms raised high above its head as if it were holding whatever was once contained in a now-empty niche in the wall. As the rest of the party searched the chamber high and low, they insisted that no one do anything “stupid”. Maybe it’s just me - but that comment seemed to be directed at Daria and me.

Whether it was or not, Daria immediately announced that she needed to check out the niche. I gave Daria a lift up to the top of the statue's head and she climbed into the niche. After checking it out, Daria reported that there were no traps.

It was then that things went wrong. I was waiting for Daria to climb down when she just up and dropped down her leather pants and dropped a pooty on top of the statue's head. As she and I were giggling (and Ortho was griping) a big bat-person walked around the corner catching us off guard and breathed some kind of cursed fire on all of us. Not only did it burn us, it also seemed to damage our very health. After just one of those, I was felling pretty crappy.

That other Zotzilaha must have been a ringer because this one was a lot tougher fight. This moron was a lot smaller than the last one and looked like a hairy guy with bat wings growing out of his back. As if things were not irritating enough, he summoned a dozen of those damnable fire bats to harass us.

Nesta began fighting by yelling “Ignore the bats! Focus on big guy! Take down Zotzilaha! Ignore the bats!” So, I grabbed my falchion, and charged the big bat loser. The battle raged on for far too long and every time Zotzilaha clawed me with those talons of his, my muscles seemed to slow and lock up. I figure that everyone else probably got the same treatment. All the while Nesta was yelling “The bats! Get the bats! Oh, Ehlonna, help! It's got me!”

Anyway, like I said, we killed Zotzilaha and his stupid fire bats but not before he beat Kongu into his inert state and fried Daria to death with a send blast of his evil breath. Hours later, as we were inspecting some really cool loot, Mystic Z used a scroll to bring Daria back to life. At first, we weren't worried about Kongu. He's been inert plenty of times and come back just fine. This time when we tried to repair him, he stayed inert. We've got to figure out how to fix him now.

Later that night, Gwendolyn told me the story of a berserker warrior and his magic greataxe. This legendary barbarian was supposedly able to channel his rage through his axe to destroy his enemies. That guy eventually died and his famous greataxe was lost to history. It was a good story with lots of killing and maiming and it really helped me sleep. Thanks, Gwen.

I was still dwelling on that story this morning and it got me thinking. If that story is true, then I figure maybe I can find a mystic to make my falchion do the same thing as that guy's axe. So far though, I haven’t found the right person either among the primitives on the Isle of Dread or the settlers at Farshore. Gwen better not have been yanking my chain.

-R

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano

Dear Diary,

I forgot that I also must kill that chick in the skeleton suit with all those circus acrobats. I really hate her.

-R

The Story of Hjálmgerðr Icemark

Icemark clan legend holds that the blood of frost giants flows in the veins of their people. Few question this claim because the Icemark clan has, generation after generation, produced many great warriors, sorcerers, and seafarers.

Hjálmgerðr Svensdottir was a beautiful maiden of the Icemark clan blessed with exceptional strength. She was always taller, stronger, and faster than all the boys her age. With her physical prowess and her pale skin & hair, everyone in her village trusted that the frost giant blood had manifested itself once again. That may be true, but Hjálmgerðr also always felt the presence of something else that, at times, seemed to guide her.

As Hjálmgerðr grew into young adulthood she trained to be a warrior just as the men of her clan and indeed she would have been better than all of them but by then she began to show signs of magic ability. Eventually Hjálmgerðr came to accept that she had been chosen to follow a different path.

When Hjálmgerðr at last came of age, she took the Icemark clan name as her last name and declared herself an representative of Kord, the god of strength. Not knowing what else to do with her, the clan decided to make use of Hjálmgerðr's natural charm and ability with people sent her to establish trade and relations with different lands.

One such mission sent Hjálmgerðr far away to a place known as the Isle of Dread to make contact with the Olman primitives there. She and a handful of her brave clansmen took a smallish longboat an a treacherous voyage. The explorers had almost completed the journey when a horrid storm struck and capsized their small vessel. Only Hjálmgerðr's skill with magic saved her. She washed up on the shore of a new colony, Far Shore.

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XP Award: 50

Yo, Ho, Blow the Man Down!

or... A Funeral Fit For a Pickle!

The party prepares and enters the cave in the slopes of Nextepeua ("He Who Rains Ashes"). Surrounding the entrance to the cave, a handful of small bat totems and offerings. Following the cave entrance, through a maze of lava tubes, the adventurers discover the shrine of Zotzilaha. Not long after entering the shrine, a flood of sinister fire bats and Zotzilaha himself appears and breathes unholy fire into the room.

Zotzilaha moans 'Desecrators' and he begins smiting the party members and draining their strength away. With brutal rage he takes down Kongu, and the party truly fights for their survival. Recovering from what was a tactial guffaw with the fire bats, the party struggles in combat. Daria wasn't as nimble as she needed to be, and falls to Zotzilaha's might blow.

Ortho finally frees himself from the unending onslaught of fire bats to open up the artillery. The tide begins to turn and Rudy finally grooves into a mighty rage. The party outlasts Zotzilaha and ends the mountains rage. The pile of loot discovered made even the greediest of pilferers happy. With a found scroll of resurrection, Z (by party consensus) bring Daria back to the world.

The Olman's agree to help defend Farshore, since the party has quieted the mountain and ended the anger of Zotzilaha.

Meet the Icemarks... Returning to Farshore, the party unloads, regroups, and discovers that the repair of the Sea Wyvern cannot be completed without the usual supply of tar from the Olmans. Recruiting a bit of new blood to make up for the loss of Kongu, the party discovers a northern warrior maiden from a far off land, Hjalmgerder. All were lost on her ship, and she bears the interesting family name of Icemark. Her pure-blooded humaness is not overlooked by certain blue party members.

The Olmans report that a particularly vicious dinosaur Temauhti-Tecuani has claimed the Tarpits. And upon arriving at the tar pits a dozen tiny screaming raccoon-men are being chased by one gnarled looking Tyrannosaurus Rex. Hjalmgerder volunteers to jump in the beasts mouth while the party beats the dinosaur to death. The raccoon-men are friendly after the battle and call themselves phanatons. They thank the party and return to their village.

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Session Characters: Nesta, Daria, Ortho, Rudolpho, Vin, Gwendyln, [Kongu], Hjalmgerder, Z
Session Loot: 500pp, ivory statue (3000gp), tiger figurine (250gp), necklace (100gp), masterwork buckler, +3 mithril brestplate, flame tongue bastard sword [stolen], stone of luck, scroll of resurrention [used], leather case with fang inside.

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano

Dear Diary,

We’re back on the freaking Isle of Dread.

Daria managed to sweet-talk Slipknot Pete out of some info. Apparently we were trying to find the Hellfish, the boat that the pirates came in on. Daria got the location of the ship from Slipknot Pete as well as the fact that the losers operated out of a place called Rat’s End. These losers were not even Scarlet Fleet; they were just wannabes. Slipknot Pete’s crew was supposed sack Farshore and then wait for the Scarlet Fleet to pick up the Hellfish and make them all first-class pirates. Wha-hoo…Sounds like bullcrap to me.

Anyway, we found the Hellfish and boy is it a piece of crap. Its capacity is only a fraction of that of the Sea Wyvern. Then someone (not me) decided that we should split ways with Capt. Spanky and the Viscious Spanking. Spanky’s crew is going to try to salvage what they can from the Sea Wyvern and maybe get it seaworthy again. We took the Hellfish on to Rat’s End and found a fat lot of nothing.

From Rat’s End, we took the Hellfish to Tanaroa, the largest filthy village of filthy primitive losers south of the two-mile loser wall. We interrupted some kind of campfire ceremony / sing-along. The local idiots were calling out a single word “Zotzilaha” over and over until they about had me singing along. It was kinda catchy.

Anyway, a bat-person image appeared in their campfire and threatened the losers to return what was taken from him. Funny thing about that – it seems that only I could understand his speech. After the bat god’s little tantrum, a handful of stupid flaming bats appeared and the island volcanoes began to rumble.

Anyway, the whole scene was really starting to annoy me. We had to spend a few moments killing the flaming bats and I chopped down their totem pole for good measure. Then I had a chance to relay what the bat loser had said. Ortho figured that I could understand because I was still toting that bat-god statue that we picked up in Tamoachan. Whatever - I have a magic statue that allows me to understand boring bat-god threats. Yay…

Mystic Z suspects that the filthy natives were only trying to appease a volcano / fire god, Huhuetotl and they were calling him by the name of the idiot bat god. Man, that bat god just doesn’t learn! We’ve already killed him once and he’s still trying to piss me off.

After all that, Gwendolyn cast some spell and she, Vin, and the old chief started yapping betwixt the three of them and before I could even begin to care what was going on, we’re on yet another mission into the heart of the Isle of Dreaded Boredom.

Then, yesterday, we got attacked by some pitiful spider critters and got into a battle that really isn’t even worth mentioning.

Just now, we were surrounded by some huge reptiles. Man, oh man, Nesta took a real beating. Some good, honest, fighting along with a few spells from the brains in the crew took care of those animals but that last one tried to run off with my dagger still stuck in its ass. I chased the beast and yelled at it while I threw crap at it - but it was finally a shitty song from Gwendolyn that took it down.

I got my dagger back.

-R

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano

Dear Diary,

Looks like I'm stuck with these idiots for a while longer.

Apparently we (meaning Vin) agreed to perform some more missions for Lavinia. You ask me, the Jade Losers could probably stand to do some honest work. I spent this afternoon sleeping through some boring city council meeting. We captured some pirates in the last battle but most of them don’t know squat and the only one that knows, isn’t telling squat. Daria left to have a talk with their leader, Slipknot Pete. Good luck, Pete.

After the town hall meeting, I just happened to comment offhand that I cannot wait to kill Vanthus and it's like I slapped everyone in the face (not that I haven't thought of doing that). Vin seemed really offended. He countered that if anyone was going to kill Vanthus that it was his duty because, as wielder of his stupid sword and shield, he was now representing the Vanderboring family and this was a family matter.

Nesta argued that she got to kill Vanthus because that is exactly the reason that she has been training as a man hunter all these weeks. Nesta says that if she gets a clear shot, she's taking out Vanthus regardless of who calls dibs on his worthless butt.

Daria insisted that killing is a dirty job and that she would take care of it to save anyone else from the moral baggage that comes with such an act. Ain't she sweet?

Gwendolyn had no idea of whom we were speaking and didn't seem really interested in killing Vanthus. Well, I've never heard of anyone being serenaded to death anyway - but if anyone could do it, it would be Gwen. No contest. Ortho and Mystic Z are lightweights. I don't guess they'll be any competition in the race to kill Vanthus. Other than myself, Kongu is the one who could definitely do the job but he seemed uninterested. He's still busy practicing with that dull sword.

Anyway I've got an itchin' that won't be scratched until I get around to killing Vanthus Vabderboren. Oh yeah, I gotta kill Maria too. I almost forgot about her. Let's see. Then there's Harlus and Bryss. I can't forget about all of those Drow under the Isle of Dread. I gotta get back to killing them. Then there are all of those stupid primitives back in Loserville – the ones that killed Avner. I'm gonna kill every last one of them. And whatever that two-headed monkey-faced loser is – he’s got it coming. Lastly, I have to remember to kill those pirates that threw me overboard years ago.

Diary, I gotta lotta work ahead of me. I gotta quit writing and get to killing.

-R

XP Standings

Nesta, Vin, Daria, Kongu advance to Level 9. Newt and Chiri advance to Level 8.

Level 9: Rudy, Z, Nesta, Vin, Daria, Kongu

Level 8: Ortho, Gwendlyn, Chiri, Newt

Level 7: Druugen, Spanky, Medea

Don't forget to send in your updated character sheets.

When The Saints Go Marching In

The party interrogated Slip-knot Pete and Lefty. The Crimson Fleet is coming in two months to attack Farshore. The pirate give up the abandoned pirate outpost Rat's end, and the party recoveres the Hellfish (cog).

Went to Olman city for help, and the fire-bat god sends a swarm of fire bats to attack since an idol is missing from his shrine. The party kills the bats and accepts the quest to find and return the idol to Zotzilaha's spot in the mountain.

On the way to the mountain the party encounters several instances of the local fauna, and even survives being trampled by a herd of dinosaurs.

==========
Session Characters: Nesta, Daria, Ortho, Rudy, Vin, Gwen, Kongu

XP Standings

Rudy, Gwendlyn, and Z advance a level. Nesta and Vin are closing in on 9.

Level 9: Rudy, Z

Level 8: Nesta, Vin, Daria, Kongu, Ortho, Gwendlyn

Level 7: Chiri, Newt, Druugen, Spanky, Medea

Requirements: New PC sheets for Rudy and Z
Pending work: Character sheet and background for Cleric, Bubba Minos, and Erin.
List of henchmen of the Sea Wyvern/Vicious Spanking (aka Purity's Prow) is ready for detailing of stat blocks/character sheets if anyone would like to earn some extra XP.

From the Diary of Rudolpho Milano

Dear Diary,

I fear that I am losing my passion for mindless slaughter.

Case in point: As we made our way further South down the trail, Nesta kept reminding everyone how close we must be getting to our journey's end and that seemed to greatly lift everyone's spirits. Nesta was still using Urol's old maps so I was merely cautiously optimistic.

Anyway, finally arrived at a great wall fifty feet tall and over two miles wide! It had been a few days since I had gotten a good opportunity to destroy something with my falchion and I figured that this wall looked like the perfect opportunity. But just as I began to haul back my blade, the damn door opened. Vin and Ortho had talked the natives into opening the door. What a ripoff!

We walked into a village of primitive losers. I was so bored I didn't even slaughter any of the locals. Not a one! Honest!

We trekked from that loser village down to another loser village on the South coast where we are now, ready to set out on a boat ride tomorrow for an island and the settlement of Far Shore.

Hello civilization! I can't wait to kick back and take it easy for a while. I want to collect my money that Lavinia owes me, maybe do some shopping and vacationing, and get my butt back to Sasserine.

Yep, I can't wait. Lavina better have my money.

-R