[Dusk Campaign] Story Thread

[Ytts]

REALLY QUICK SUMMARY

Session #1 - in which our fellows find themselves jailed in a sulphur mine, as prisoners of General Clairvaux's New Dictatorship.
Session #2 - in which our fellows find themselves separated, and The Gnoll is first encountered; Alarice, Mathan and Trigga experience the horrors of Innsmouth
Session #3 - in which our fellows travel north, to Hale, and receive an offer of employment; thereafter, on the adventure through Greenleaf and the vampire lair
Session #4 - in which our fellows, having discovered a profane tome of wicked wisdom, are lured to Isslebrook, an estate long since fallen into ruin and apparently inhabited by a fiendish being that appears to want the book for itself

- interlude A- A roleplay session hosted by the players for the players; firstly: shelter is sought and found; a meaningful discussion between Rose and Alarice is had; And also, later: in which Rose and Trigga argue about Greenleaf, and where Shra and Mathan explore the forest together; and later, in which Mathan and Alarice argue, then Trigga and Alarice argue.

Session #5 - in which the fearsome mustachio Gran appears, Trigga cleanses the forest, and Gran forces everyone to get back on track and return the books. People are paid and the next mission is revealed the following day..
Session #6 - in which a wizardess "interfering" with Redorak's plans is assassinated, the other plane of existence explored, and a great deal of loot divided.
Session #7 - in which our petty theives commandeer a ship and set sail for Lagash, only to have Plans Fouled Up by an Enemy Tree, and find themselves Stranded On The Ocean with Only Wits, Alcohol, and Bob The Wastrel Drunk.
Session #8 - in which a makeshift raft Sees Our Heroes set sail for the Lagash Harbour, and they encounter a Deadly Shipwreck full of Something Unclean
Session #9 - in which our would-be Heroes storm the Lagash Sewers and kill the captain of Clairvaux's mercernaries, Julliard, leaving Clairvaux only with the fickle loyalties of the Lagash Army.
Session #10 - in which our beleagured revolutionaries Assasinate General Clairvaux and flee the rioting Lagash, and are rewarded as Promised by the Puppet.
Session #11 - in which the Wizardess's Damn Fool Of A Plan to loot Redorak's Estate leads them out of Hale and across the Khaarokan Mountain Range, brings them under the assault of a tribe of Giants and into Big Trouble in Little Town.
Session #12 - in which the Gnollman produces as Heck Of A Lot of Weapons for a troubled village, and Kills Some Damn Wolves; And Where a Deadly Woman from The Paladin's Past joins the Entourage; and some Really Bad People Die.
Session #13 - in which Redorak's Estate is Looted and the party meets the Madman Karlos Mago; and the Pants Are Off in an All Time Fight For Survival as Karlos Mago makes off with a Veritable Trove of Valuable Literature.
Session #14 - in which Shia Disappears, and the Wizardess, the Assassin, and the Paladin find That All Is Not Well in The World, and Something Dreadfully Wicked This Way Has Passed...
Session #15 - in which the party is coaxed into attempting to retrieve some artifacts from a nearby insane asylum and Everything Goes Quite Not Alright, with the Paladin's mind cracking, she picks up a goblinoid corpse which she Insists is the Living, Breathing beautiful daughter she knows as Nalia and the others know as What Is That Horrible Stench.
Session #16 - in which the Puppet's reappearance catches the party again unawares, along with his demands for a rare crystal from the nearby Derro mines is heard, and granted; and in which It Begins To Rain Mighty Hard.
Session #17 - in which our adventurers slog out of the Blacklake Forest and into a swamp; wherein a Traveller joins the entourage, and in which Erikka is nearly assasinated outside of Lo Town, and Where The Paladin Is Freed From Her Curse.
Session #18 - in which?

The Actual Story:

Our story begins in City of Lagash, fourteen years before the Last Great War. It will be two years before the first prophets of Celestian stumble from their monasteries and first speak of the coming of the Terrible Burning, and longer still before the first of the great weapons are found and the cataclysm is set in motion.

--

Lagash is in the height of preparations for the largest celebration in a decade, for they have finally crushed their bitter rival, the city of Aral. The Lagashese General, Clairvaux, is only days away from his triumphant return. The hope of peace and prosperity is high. The docks are overcrowded with wives and lovers, awaiting the return of their husbands in the army. The harvest from nearby Corinn has been bountiful and the markets are generous this season and the year ahead promises to be one of the best in recent years.


And yet...

[Ytts]

And yet, a mild, feverish unease passes through the city. As though a window to something unsettling had been opened just a tad, and a chill draft has passed into the room.

Not all things are as they seem. There is treason on the mind of Clairvaux, and he holds the riches of Aral. Who should notice if a chest here or there should go missing and a few extra mercenaries be hired by Clairvuax, amidst the great celebration? And if, upon his return, who would remark it odd if he should happen to proceed directly to the council hall? Why, no one at all...



Session #1
posts below

[Ytts]

Psyche writes Alarice's Summary of the Subsequent events...

Rudely pulled from her sleep in The Plumb Swine Inn, Alarice was thrown into a prision mine. From the what she heard from the guards, she was now a political prisoner - since she was a dirty foreigner - on the order of General Clairvaux, the new ruler of Lagash. 

Apparently, the General had come back from conquering the city of Aral with even more troops then he'd left with and taken over Lagash, banishing or killing the High Counselors.

After awakening with four other prisoners, Alarice and the others quickly realized that there was a fifth: an old Dwarf bent on escape. 

Unfortunately, Alarice was too busy imagining that all the air was being sucked out of the room and the walls were closing in on her to be paying much attention to the plan.  Had she been, she would have heard that the dwarf planned to cause a cave-in and escape.  The dwarf then disappeared down a side tunnel too small for humans.

The earthquake that proceeded, causing the gate to be smashed off it's hinges, did nothing to ease Alarice's claustrophobia, but the group rushed forward.

After grabbing pick axes, Alarice went on to tell the group in vivid detail what might happen if they rushed into danger.  Keeping that in mind, the group worked toward what they hoped was escape.

Taking out a few guards and their watch dogs was required before the group got to their unprocessed equipment. Once that was sorted out they continued on and discovered that the cave was inhibited by a large family of werebats.

They dispatched the werebats only to be confronted at last by a crazed werewolf.  Alarice thought icily about how her companions should really learn to dodge as she set about blasting the lycanthrope with a fireball.

After the werewolf was dealt with, the group found the journal of one Cornelius Heinrich III which detailed his attempts to cure lycanthrope by experimenting on the were-creatures.  Seemingly, he was ended by the very creatures he was trying to save.  That he deserved it was Alarice's voiced, and contested, opinion.

The group escaped from the cave, much to Alarice's relief and made their way to an abandoned barn were they holed up for the night.

And that is were it was left off.

[Ytts]

Moondog (I love this one, Moondog)

Our brave heroes, (a bunch of scary women and a male druid) found themselves having been captured, and thrown into prison inside a Sulphur mine, where they would be expected to do hard manual labor, among other such terrible things!

Luckily for them - They came upon a friendly (as far as they can be) Dwarf, who had engineered a cave-in to occur to give them the needed distraction they needed to escape. He also (apparently) sprung the cell door, letting our brave band of heroines (and one dude) escape.

There, they came upon a small cache of mining implements, handy as makeshift weapons. With those in hand, they explored the mine in search of an exit.

They came upon a room full of guards - and more worrisome, WEREBATS. After slaughtering everything that moved, they found, inside a bunch of boxes, their equipment which had been seized previously. Now properly equipped, they noticed the note on the desk - Which explained that the equipment had yet to be processed.

The note read, they continued exploring, hacking guards and werebats to shreds until they came upon another particularly interesting room - In it, were a number of chests. The party rogue sprung the locks quickly (or maybe the mage used Knock), and the party decided to split the loot evenely.

With that out of the way, they all decided to continue their escape attempt. Near the exit, they found a Werewolf! After killing the beastie, they found the journal of one Cornelius, apparently a mage trying to cure Lycanthropy. He failed, sadly, and presumably got eaten by those he was trying to cure.

Eventually, the group escaped the mine, running through the forest, where they came upon a barn. There, they split the loot they had acquired, and decided to spend the night. That's where we left off.

[Ytts]

session #2
posts below.

[Ytts]

Dalton's Journal:

It all started out with finding out where our friends had gone off to. Some gnoll offered to join us and we begrudgingly accepted--after all we hardly wanted to face the dangers with just the two of us, and he was lonely. Though my character could have gone off and lived a pleasant and (sort of..) safe life if he wanted, he had been saved from the mine shaft previously by these strange people and so helping them stay alive a little longer is the least he can do in return.

Before arriving at Innsmouth, aside from being assailed by a few bandits tht were no big deal, we were stopped by somebody posing as a guard outside of the town. He seemed a little suspicious, so our horribly-named druid Dalton sniffed him out and identified him as a shapeshifter, but couldn't quite glean more than that. Despite the shapeshifter having not seemed threatening, Alarice (the prejudiced fiend she is) decided to try to blow him away. Understandably, he fled the scene.

We stayed the night at the inn like the shapeshifter advised us to, Alarice decided to rob everybody, and we apparently failed our listen checks. It was awesome.

Not long before sunrise some crap starts to hit the fan, and we discover that another patron of the inn had been killed, mangled, hacked to pieces, and strewn about her room like a merry pinata. Not feeling particular pinata-like, we figured we'd jump out the window and run down the street. Too bad it turns out all the townspeople were beasts. So being caught in a mess either way, we gave them the indiscriminate slaughtering they deserved and entered into the temple of Dagon where we heard our companions had been taken... though before we entered that shifter from earlier decided to kick the crap out of the gnoll several times in a row.

Inside we found a great demon in a summoning circle, who agreed to answer three questions: one for each of us. Dalton's question was extremely important, as he wanted to know the location of his companions. And it turned out they're alive and waiting for him, which gave him the strength to move on. Up until this point Dalton had made his utmost effort to protect and serve Alarice, as she was one of the original people who rescued him and he felt a debt and respect to her.

The need to press on before more swarms of townfolk caught up to use forced us to escape underground, through some seaside caves, and finally to the ocean itself. But it was too late by then, as our location was finally pinpointed and swarms of monsters were coming down on us like a torrent! Dalton bravely stood the line, not budging until his companions had made some headway in fleeing and he had run out of healing items and spells completely. finally pressed to the verge of death, he turned into a bird and flew away.

On his way out the cave, Alarice randomly attacked him, having a great deal of hatred for birds as she does. Dalton fled and regained his composure, tending to his wounds and re-assuming his human guise. Alarice may find now, though, that her former trusted companion has nothing to say to her. While he still stands by her side to keep her alive, her attempts to approach him for conversation are met only with a baring of teeth. If only she realized how she betrayed him... but her treachery isn't enough to make him give up, because the rest of his companions still need rescuing.

[Ytts]

Session #3
posts below

----

Mathan Banally (Moondog's Gnoll)'s writeup:

"We had just ran out of Innsmouth, a nasty little town full of strangely fish-like people and a shape-changer, to find an underground cave complex. We got outta there through a combination of inspired team-work, me slicing things to shreds, and general slaughter. It was quite glorious - except for all the times I got stabbed. That wasn't fun.

Well, we eventually had to run - and run we did, climbing ropes and eventually ending up on a cliff-face, where we rested, healed ourselves up as best we were able to, and even talked a bit.  It turns out this Alarice lady, she's not bad, really. Sure, she calls me smelly and a vermin, and says horrible things about me - but deep down, I'm pretty sure she likes me. At least, I hope so. If she doesn't, and she's NOT just hiding it beneath a cold, mean exterior, I'm probably going to wake up with a summoned demon on my head one night.

The other guy, well. He growls and sniffs and snorts and stuff. It's very odd, especially for a human - I think he's a human. Kind of whiskery for one. But he's pretty quiet, so I can't get a read on him. Seems decent enough, and is honest.

Well, we rested up, then climbed down the cliffs. Came out in a forest. I, having bravely lost my weapon holding off a horde of fish-men single-handedly, eventually having to punch them to death while they swung their horrid claws at me, tore off a tree branch for use as a club.

I proceeded to beat a very large, very angry bear to death with the club. It was a very, very large bear. After beating the bear's skull in, we strolled our way through the forest. It was pretty peaceful. Except for the bears. THey weren't peaceful at all.

We ran across ANOTHER human woman (I swear, they're everywhere these days) on our way to Hale. She was pretty nice lookin', for a human. I guess. I was really paying more attention to how well she used that axe to hack everything to pieces. Sexy, that.

She doesn't talk much. But... I don't think she likes me at all. It's ok - I'm used to it by now.

With her help, we proceeded to righteously slaughter our way through a small army of bandits. I personally beat many to death single-handedly with my incredible clubbing ability. Got stabbed again. Getting tired of that.

We got to Hale relatively unscathed (minus the stabbing). At the gates, the militiamen stopped us, saying something like "Your kind ain't welcome 'round 'ere boy". Lucky for me, I have... uh. Friends, I guess, that're willing to help me out.

...They helped me out by making me pretend I was their pet monkey. Sad

My dignity slightly wounded, I was allowed to enter the city. The guards, not satisfied with compromising MY dignity, proceeded to clumsily attempt to coerce the ladies into 'paying' their way into the city via 'favors'. Horrible, that.

I mean, if you're going to do THAT, you'd think they could come up with a much better line than "Why don't you take me out for a drink?" you know? I'm sure I could have done a much better job.

Eventually, they (minus the silent axe-woman) began to argue about 'whose responsibility or problem' I was. I doubt they understand this, but... it kind of hurts, being treated as a walking problem. I'm tired of that - got enough of it growing up, enough of it at home. But whatever, I left that mess behind.

I dunno what everyone else did in Hale, but I visited the Smith's, and commisioned a proper sword again - one with a resev- lake? No. Dam? No. Uhm... store of mercury inside the blade, to add weight to the strikes. I had them enchant it with a gem that causes it to constantly drip acid (kinda smelly) that makes my attacks far more effective. It's so wonderful to see how people and bears (especially bears) explode into showers of gorey past when I hit them JUST right.

We met back up at an inn (decent enough place). We got our rooms, I slept like a log for a little bit, then got woken up by some kind of... well. Creepy attendant, really.

Alarice (mean mage woman, remember?) proceeded to blast him to kingdom come (If she's that cranky WITH sleep, I'd hate to see what happens if someone wakes her up...). 'He' turned out to be some kind of magical creature, just a bunch of animated objects all stitched together and stuff. Kinda freaky, really. He made us an offer we... probably shouldn't (and didn't) refuse.

Find a pair of books in a 'minor' (his words, not mine) Vampire Lord's cave (Not much of a lord if he has to live in a cave, is he?). Being the exceptionally gifted people we are (especially me. I'm awesome), we casually accepted and off we went into the forest.

...The forest full of dark evil waters full of necromantic energies and little winged midget zombies. That's right. Midget zombies. With wings. They made such wonderful splattering sounds as my sword crushed them one after another. I think I must have slain thirty, easily.

Of course, my sword wasn't as effective as the quiet growly guy's lightning bolts. THose things leveled an entire battlefield full of the zombies. I wish I could do that.

Well, we sliced and diced our way through zombies, through a cave (where I was NOT slain by a Brownie, no matter what ANYONE else says, ever), and eventually ran accross... well. A midget who worshipped Nerull, I think he was. Quickling? Pixie? Something. Either way, we sliced. And sliced. And sliced. And sliced. Eventually, he died.

You know, we do a lot of killing. We're pretty good at it. Especially me, though.

We took all the treasure we found (why leave it there, y'know?) and made our way to the Vampire Lord's Cave (why a cave?). It was full of rats. Rats rats rats rats rats in the walls, rats on the floors. Lemme tell you, I think I sliced my way through at least thirty rats at least. It was wonderful! So much blood and fur was flying, I saw the world as though through a red haze.

Oh, and there were very large wolves. I stabbed those. They died.

There were pale humans there too. Vampires, of course. They died too, eventually. It took a while longer, 'cuz for some reason, their skins deflected most of my blade's cutting ability. It was awful - especially when we got to the big bad vampire. He took a LONG time to slice up.

But eventually I did it. With one final clean slice, WHISHT, off went his head (It's in my bag now). We stole all his stuff, got the books, and left to lick our wounds (I got stabbed. Again. It kinda hurts, but I think I'm getting used to it).  We bedded down in the forest, and relaxed and chatted for a while.

It's nice, I have to admit. Traveling with people as an equal, rather than the whipping boy. I hope they let me stick around a  bit more; I mean, they'd be dumb not to, as awesome as I am."

[Psyche]

REALLY QUICK SUMMARY


- interlude A- A roleplay session hosted by the players for the players; firstly: shelter is sought and found; a meaningful discussion between Rose and Alarice is had; And also, later: in which Rose and Trigga argue about Greenleaf, and where Shra and Mathan explore the forest together; and later, in which Mathan and Alarice argue, then Trigga and Alarice argue.[/size]

Ok, I getting the vibe that Alarice did a lot of arguing here.  Is it just me?

[Moondog]

We weren't arguing! We were on a date. *nods*

[Psyche]

We weren't arguing! We were on a date. *nods*

Lies!

[Psyche]

Session #4:
posts below
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Alarice attempted her first binding spell after a heated argument with Rosery and was nearly pulled into the other realm.  As Alarice struggled to remain in control, a mysterious voice spoke through the breach, whispering in an angelic voice. 
After Alarice won the battle over her new bound summon, Dalton realized the voice was calling from the south, calling to them for help. 

The group set off south and found Isslebrook, a former noble's estate, overun by Minotuars.  The group made their way into the estate and stumbled about a demon - a Hezruo.  After a fierce battle, the group was victorious. At the request of Rosery, Alarice burnt the demon's body to ash. The group realized that the "angel" that called to them must have been the demon.  Alarice wondered briefly why the demon had taken an interest in them and if it had anything to do with the books they carried.

The group retired back to their camp after that and discussed what to do next.  Dalton had been cursed and no one was able to cure him.  He wanted to save Greenleaf forest and left. 
Mathon, Shra and Alarice went after him, while Rosery stayed behind to guard the camp.  Dalton refused to return and thinking that he was under the influence of the curse, Mathon attacked him and knocked him out, taking him back to camp. 
When Dalton was knocked out, he started reverting to his true form and soon the whole group knew he was a shapeshifter.

[Ytts]

Trigga's Journal

So they've finally figured out I'm a shapeshifter. Rosery, Mathan, and Shra don't seem to mind, but Alarice is becoming intolerable.

What a hypocrite she is. She is offended that I didn't trust her--I saw what she did to the other shapeshifters we'd met, not to mention my previous dealings with humans. She expects me to forgive her hatred of my people, but to feel no ill toward her?

Well, whatever. I didn't set out on this mission to have fun or befriend the humans. I just need to stick around long enough to figure out what to do with the River of Sin. I believe it requires a Protection From Evil spell, followed by Restoration.. but that's the temporary fix. What's the third spell? If I can't figure out what the real third spell is, I bet a Wish will do, but how to get a wish? Mathan won't part with his tarot cards willingly...

Once I solve the River of Sin's problem for good, I'll see then whether the others want me. I am bound by my honor to protect them, just as they've protected me. I am not so low as a human to simply walk out on those I have a debt to. But if they really distrust me so much that they'd feel safer without me, then I will ask that they relieve me of my oath so I can go home.

[Ytts]

Session Intermission A
Roleplay Session For the Roleplayers By The Roleplayers

posts below.

[Ytts]

Mathan's Journal

"So... today, we didn't run around and fight our way through a horde of bandits, save a city from a horde of demons, or anything of the sort. Instead, we relaxed, sat around, and talked.

I was just mindin' my own business, y'know, like I usually do, until a gang of bears attacked me. Godless killing machines, those bears, lemme tell you. They bit me. It kinda hurt. So I killed them. Problem solved, right?

While I was off making the world a safer place, I over-heard Dalton poking about the old house near our campsite. The doors were locked and all, but I guess he found a way inside. It seemed to have been abandoned for a while, but the beds were still in pretty good condition. There were only four of them though.

Dalton volunteerd to turn into a badger and sit in a little nest he dragged in. That's right. A Badger. Or maybe it was a raccoon, I wasn't paying too much attention. You've seen one weird whiskery-faced human-looking thing turn into something else, you've seen 'em all, y'know? 'Sides, he's still who he is, shapechange regardless. Don't really care. But damn, it's weird as hell to see.

With our bed arrangements suitably taken care of, there wasn't a whole lot for me to take care of, so I went for a walk in the forest alone. Well, ok, not alone, since Shra was there too. I guess she gets anxious without anything nearby to do as well. We strolled through the forest, slaughtered a few spiders, looted some corpses, (I found another card. Now I've got one fourth of the total I need), and left the forest. Oh, and we busted in on a GIGANTIC spider's lair and saved Dalton from being eaten by it. 

He fell down the bridge while looking for us, it seems. With him saved, we merrily strode (Ok, so I kinda drug my way back, being poisoned and all) out of the forest and back to camp for a bit. Said camp was empty!

It turned out that Alarice and Rosery had went to the OTHER part of the forest. The one that was full of drunken goat-men. Or maybe it was the one right before that? Well, either way. I snu- erh, I mean, I 'walked' a little closer to eaves- erh, to be able to watch over them in case anything attacked while not being close enough to be obvious. Wouldn't want to disturb their conversation about why Rosery was a Cleric and Alarice a mage.

...Not that I heard it, you understand.

They saw me after a bit, and stopped talking. I said "Yo." They replied "Get out, Gnoll." So, like the nice guy I am, I shrugged and left. Took a walk on the road that leads to Hale. Shra came with me. She must have guessed why I was on that road.

It gets frustrating constantly being told "Get out!" and so as not to be unpleasant to my fr- erh, traveling companions, I decided I'd let out a little steam... by slicing some bandits to ribbons.  Shra and I had a hell of a time finding some, lemme tell you. I think the last army of them we slaughtered was enough deterrent to keep most of them away. But there was a small company. Maybe twenty, thirty or so. Nothing major.

We hacked them all to pieces, easy as pie. I got stabbed again. It didn't hurt that much. I think I'm getting used to it. With the bandits dead, I stripped the corpses, threw them in a ditch, and felt better. A lot better. I guess slaughtering a horde of bandits is the best stress relief there is. Barring a few other things...

I strolled on back to where the spellcasters were chatting. Minus Dalton, I don't know where he was. Probably off looting garbage cans somewhere. That's what badger/raccoons do, right?

They'd stopped talking, so I sprawled on the floor and yawned. I mentioned that I might learn magic. So they BOTH laughed at me, as if somehow, it was impossible for me to learn it. Alright, you know what? If they're gonna be that way, fine. I'll show 'em. Sure, I mean, I can do a few tricks here and there, but those must not be good enough. Whatever.

Alarice went and insulted the sword. That wasn't right - sure, it's not as mystical or flashy as magic, but it's no easier to wield. Especially mine, since it weighs a good twenty pounds. I handed it to her, and she quite nearly fell over trying to heft it. Not as easy as it looks, eh? She was still unwilling to admit it... and proposed a match.

My steel against her magic. The stakes were... if she won, I'd stop laughing mid-combat. If I won... well, she REALLY didn't seem keen on me winning.

So, we waited until the morning, and did our thing at the camp-site. I knew what to expect, having seen her spells. I knew that if I kept my armor on that I would be slowed down. I couldn't win like that, so I took it off. Problem solved.

Our first match was over in a matter of seconds. I ran towards her just as she threw a fireball. While I was expecting the fireball, she wasn't expecting it to go off so close to her. I shrugged off the burns, while she pretty much roasted herself. I didn't even have to swing that time.

She was DETERMINED not to lose, claiming that the first match didn't count, as she hadn't done something right or something like that. Ok, whatever, I said. Let's try it again.

She was a bit faster than I was the second time, and hurled a pair of fiery pain-causing things at me. Of course, they torched me. But I'm used to the abuse by now (she's lit me on fire so many times...) and, since her guard was down, I took a single quick swing - left the blade right at her neck. Match over. Two wins for me, none for her.

With my victory secured, I went about finding a suitable place to uh, collect my winnings. "

[Ytts]

Alarice's Journal

Alarice began the night by knocking back one or six bottles of wine with Mathan - just a night cap, really.  After then next couple of bottles, she began to realize just how much that gnoll was annoying her. It was rather a lot. In her current state of mind it was clear that the only course of action required singeing the furball.  Not badly, just enough to get a message across.  The next few minutes consisted largely of Alarice running after Mathan and casting a multitude of fire spells.

Alarice passed out soon after.  She awoke a few hours later, her eye bleary and her head ringing.  It took a moment for her eyes to focus, so she smelled the gnoll before she saw him.  Alarice jumped up shouting at Mathan, who appeared to have spent the night sleeping a few feet away from her.
The shouting was interrupted by vomiting and before it could resume, Shra came to notify them that the others had found an abandoned house.

After glaring at Mathan, Alarice, Shra and the gnoll made their way to the abandoned house.  It seemed unremarkable enough, although it was at least dry.  Dalton joined them and Alarice shuddered openly as he shifted in his other form and fell asleep.  So unnatural...

The next day Alarice and Rosery went for a walk after Alarice inquired about Rosery's reasoning for becoming a cleric.
They exchanged stories, although the story Alarice told seemed... off.

They were interrupted by Dalton and then by Mathan.  Mathan wanted to know about the nature of magic.  Unfortunately, he made the mistake of equating magic power to that of the blade and Alarice, in a fit of indignation, challenged him to fight.
Mathan scoffed until Alarice proposed a bet.  If she won, he would never again say that simple steel weapons were as powerful as magic, and also he had to stop laughing.  Such an annoying laugh.  Mathan agreed, but only if his reward (if he won) was a date, just the two of them.  Sputtering with rage, Alarice agreed.

The next day, after preparing Alarice prepared her most powerful spells, they faced off.  Mathan closed the distance between them almost faster then she could cast fireball and she was finished with a single strike from his sword.
After she was able to stagger to her feet, she demanded a rematch.  The second fight was over even faster, with Alarice knocked to the ground before she could even start an incantation.

Her head aching and her dignity even more wounded, Alarice seethed as the others chuckled.  Even Tieri, her mini-Myconid familiar knew better then to try and give her hugs, although that didn't stop him from giving them to everyone else.

Alarice begrudgingly admitted she had lost, much to Mathan's delight.  They went on the date (which wasn't really a date Alarice assured herself, more like an unusual punishment) later that night. Surprisingly, Alarice found that she didn't have the worst time of her life, though she would never admit as such.

After they returned to camp, Dalton made it clear that he had a problem with Alarice's cold treatment of him because he was a shapeshifer.  Alarice denied such treatment was because he was a shapeshifter and instead was because he had kept it a secret from her for so long.

Frustrated, she returned to camp to spend the night reading.

[Ytts]

Session #5:
posts follow hereafter

[Psyche]

Really brief summary of Session #5:

1) Gran appears
2) Assassins attacked the group at the camp in the woods
3) Dalton cures a forest
4) Gran reveals who has hired him: the man who hired the group to fetch the books
5) The group is eventually persuaded to return with the books
6) The creepy attendant pays the group
7) The group barhops
8) The creepy attendant tells of the next mission in the morning - assassinate a wizard trying to interfere with politics in the region in an abandoned tower 
9) The group travels there

[Moondog]

Session #6
posts below:


                                   Game Stuff

"So, we've been hired to clear out an old tower out near Innsmouth. Supposedly full of undead, and the like. Just bash a few old skeletons into dust, slice a zombie to bits. Easy money, right?

Wrong.  It turns out, to get up the tower, we've got to collect three of these portal stone things. Each one was scattered around the tower.

Three seperate dungeon-type things, three seperate keys. No big deal. In one, there was a dragon, which I wisely chose not to battle with. Instead, I walked by, sliced some big ugly dogs to ribbons, and went about slaughtering Invisible Stalker type things. No big deal. Then there were the elementals, and some shrimpy little magic user guy. Lopped his head off, clean  as a whistle. Swiped the key from his corpse. He didn't need it, right? Did not get stabbed here.

Down the other corridor? Zombies and skeletons, hurrah! Easy pickings this time, yeah? Yeah! At least, once Alarice (Smart  cookie, she is) threw out four walls of Fire, and we all just waited for the undead to walk through and melt, leaving only a few straggling strong ones to clean up, we got through them in no time. I didn't even get stabbed this time.

It was smooth going, until I came face to face with a medusa. I took one look at her face and got hard. All over. Petrified, that is. Luckily for me, Alarice was on the job, and restored me to life. She's such a wonderful person...and she hasn't fireball'd me lately. Life is good. Long story short, we sliced the medusae ( a shame, that), grabbed the other portal shard, took some loot, and went on our way to the last place. Didn't get stabbed.

Last place was a cavern, full of little flying midgets made of ooze and these big nasty dogs who breathed fire. Well, lucky for us, I have a great throwing arm. I spent half an hour throwing arrows, and cleared out most of the bad things, no worries. Didn't get stabbed this time either. Grabbed the portal shard, and off we went to fight the big bad evil wizard, right? Haven't gotten stabbed yet.

Right! We busted open the portal, ran into it, and came out... not in some fancy posh library, like a SANE wizard would have, but a battlefield full of dead things. And strange ogre-like beings who hit hard, but died after I introduced them to the pointy-stabby-slashy end of my sword. Repeatedly. Got stabbed this time. Didn't enjoy it.

Well, I lopped off the mage's head, stole her amulet (an amazing item, one I'm saving for...someone important) and  we busted on outta there. Something about that place though. It was wrong somehow, as if all the killing and  anger of the killed people had run into the land and was taking its toll on the people standing on it. It felt... tainted, somehow. Didn't get stabbed afterwards.

That taken care of, we split the loot fairly (not me. I gave more than I found, 'cuz I didn't find too much), as good friends should, and went our seperate ways. Though you know... I think Gran's a bit of a crook. He keeps opening chests, taking their stuff, then locking them again. I can't prove it yet, but if I can. Did not get stabbed.

______________________________________________________________________
                                                  RP Stuff

After we'd all gone our seperate ways, I planned to head to Lagash to stick a gem into my armor. It turned out that Alarice was on her way there as well, so we went together. With her asking me why I was following her the entire way. Luckily for her, I was there, as a gang of bugbears (nasty buggers. Good with swords though) was loitering around the bridge. I hacked them to bits while Alarice kept me alive and threw magic missiles at their faces, and they all died in short order. Didn't get stabbed this time. Was nice.

Well, we got to Lagash, and I waited for Alarice to do some research in the church of Cuthbert. The Father there... he's kind of a douche. Called me a monkey-dog, can you believe it? If it wasn't for the fact that I am a good person, I would have introduced him to my fist, lemme tell you.  Also, he said Alarice's hands were grubby, which I doubt. Blackened and full of ash from all the fire she hurls at innocent chickens and me and the horrible monsters, probably. But not grubby. Did not get stabbed at church.

She left the church, and dragged me to a room at the inn. To talk(of all things, what a bore) about her suspiciouns of the church hiding stuff. Which wouldn't surprise me at all. Well, that wasn't too bad. Until the Lagash city guard came and busted down our door, prompting us to run like hell out of the inn. Got stabbed again. Woke up being dragged out of the city by Alarice.

We were being persued - by just about everything they could throw at us. Dwarven mercenaries, drow assassins, an invisible manticore-basilisk dragon hybrid, which I slew in mere seconds by removing its head... you name it, it was after us. Horrible things, they were. So she and I did the intelligent thing, and ran. And ran. And ran some more. Did not get stabbed.

We ran up the hills. It was about nightfall, so I set up a tent, and she and I camped out. We couldn't light a fire - it would give away our position AND probably start a forest fire. Bad news in general. Then it started to snow heavily, with the temperatures dropping to below freezing. With no fire, we couldn't cook any meat, so I gave Alarice my last two oranges and a bottle of ale, and let her eat. She needed it more than I did, I think. Night fell, it was horribly cold. Tossed my only blanket over her. Slept without one. Was fine. Did not get stabbed.

Day came, after what seemed like a far too long night. We climbed down into the forest for shelter, since neither of us wanted to freeze again. Forest was nice and peaceful. Except for the vipers. They didn't appreciate me stepping on their heads. They appreciate me removing their heads even less, but I didn't really care, since their little teeth couldn't get past my armor.

We found a gypsy wagon, with our favorite mysterious gypsy lady. I forget to ask her name, but I'll call her Eva for short.

...She answered a question of mine, and gave me some things to think about.

We then left the forest, and entered an old mine.

An old mine full of minotaurs, leeches, a giant mimic (we avoided that), and even magical flying books and weapons. Almost got magic missiled into oblivion by the books. Those things were horrible, so much pain from a book.  Oh, and I sliced up some stinky lizardmen too, no problem. Did not get stabbed.

We left the mine behind us eventually, and came to a desert long stretch of grassy plains. It was a very sandy grassy kind of plains, lemme tell you. Our walk through it was uneventful, thankfully. It led us to a swamp. A swamp full of alligators, stirges, and what was really scary? A giant block of jelly that tried to devour me whole. Luckily, I'm good at running like hell, and Alarice was there to blow it to kingdom come with her magic, since my sword was useless against it.

We were about through the swamp when I felt the ground shake and rumble. Up from it came a massive worm! A worm bigger than even the dragon in the tower was. Well, I did the smart thing. I ran away and threw axes at it, while Alarice zapped it. Eventually, it ran away... I don't think we killed it. Did not get stabbed in swamp.

The swamp led us to the sea-sides. You know, the place where we escaped Innsmouth that's on the side of the sea, with a beach? That kind of place. Really nice and relaxing. Another long walk, and we were in Hale, where we headed to the inn and rested. On our way from Hale to camp (That's where *I* was headed, dunno about Alarice), we found a prostitute being assaulted by some common bandits. I swiftly removed their limbs from  their bodies and made sure the poor woman was alright. She sobbed about her 'sisters' being slain by evil bandits. I didn't get stabbed here.

I dashed to the rescue, and sliced a small horde of bandits to pieces, with Alarice's expert help. Problem solved. Almost got stabbed."

[Rosery]

Journal Entry: March 30th, Trip to The Tower (Session write up down in Journal Form)

It was an...interesting and troubled day. I was not much help to my allies today I think in fact I think I was more of a hindrance to them, I could not focus on anything I kept miscasting spells and while Alarice helped me to forge an item that would help ease my casting thus allowing me to cast more, I continually used the wrong spells I can't believe what a fool I was, mistakes a first year chapel student would not make! I finally managed to get it right and thanks to Alarice's skill in crafting I actually managed to acquire an item I could not purchase.

We soon made for the tower heading south from Hale, again I was constantly distracted my mind was so heavily focused upon the other night upon that item, I must have it I know I must now it will help me! That is not important however we soon reached the tower and it seemed like such a simple mission enter the tower purge the undead and help there souls find passage to judgment in the celestial planes and then slay the abhorred practitioner of necromancy who dared raise them from there peaceful slumber. It was not so easy for when we entered we discovered that we needed three portal pieces to proceed to the wizard we were supposed to kill and so off we went the Gnoll found the first set of stairs leading down, still want to smite him finding him slightly more tolerable as he proves his worth though.

(Wet gnoll smell impossible to get out of full plate mail, sold it I think he did something to it glad to be rid of it, placing a warding spell on my chain mail when I sleep now as well as my pack.)

The first area was highly unpleasant filled with hellish panther like creatures that seemed bent on tearing our flesh from our bones and using our bones to decorate there lairs, through out experiences and teamwork we have become to powerful to be beaten by such weak servants of evil and quickly dispatched the beasts, I sadly took a rather savage blow to a weak part of my armor and was forced to rest while the remainder of the group continued. I recovered swiftly enough and took off after them finding a maze of narrow stretches of rock over water waiting for us, Alarice made us passageways out of rope but we were soon beset by hellish imps and more of the fiend like panthers. We managed to destroy them and move on though we were forced to rest for I and Dalton were fatigued from our spell casting. (The druid is quite a good companion to have around I do not think I could handle all the blessing and fortifying as well as the healing on my own.) We continued on and found more of the panthers guarding some chest, Alarice handled the loot as always, Gold and items not immediately needed were passed on to her, we continued on down yet another path and this time found what appeared to be the mage we were sent to kill but no he was not strong enough perhaps a mere servant or an apprentice of some sort he held one of the three portal stones we needed though.

The next part of this tower was even less pleasant than the first what appeared to be a more intact portion of the tower awaited us and as we explored the Gnoll found a black dragon! Can you imagine that a fiendish Dragon here and as much as I wished to beg my companions to help me slay it I knew we were no match for such a being, Dragons are old and wise even those who follow evil and mortals are rarely a match for them in such small groups...perhaps once I gain it I shall be able to return and slay the beast. We were lucky and the Dragon had made its lair in the middle of the floor in a secluded room it did not seem interested in leaving it to try and pursue or destroy us I have heard black Dragons are capable of flooding entire areas with poisonous fumes though I may thinking of another color I am not an expert on Dragons. The path around the mighty Wyrm was lightly guarded by more of the panthers and...invisible beings that clawed and slashed painfully they seemed attracted to me perhaps because of my divine link or perhaps I was just unlucky enough to draw there ire, my companions are stalwart and strong fighters though and they managed to save me from an early demise. (I again feel that I was far more a hindrance to them than an Aid this day, my weapon is weak and my blade arm shoddy, Alarice has her spells but what have I to contribute as of late...I begin to wonder if it would be better off if I left them, I know not.) We finally found yet another mage or I think I shall refer to them as apprentices from now on, at the end of this level and slew him with considerable more trouble than the last one, it was a close call he was surrounded by highly skilled monks. They were present with the first but not as many, he died like the one before and we gathered another portal shard and pressed on to the final area.

I know now why you sent mere my Lord it was to cleanse these souls hordes of undead within the catacombs that made up the final area, I was unable to provide my companions with much aid here either but I used your divine power to drive the undead into corners so that they could destroy the foul bodies and help the souls find peace, I had not time to utter long prayers so I silently said one for the mass undead we slew there. Alarice amazed me today with such a simple trick she probley saved our lives, beset upon by untold numbers of undead she erected a wall of fire amidst a door and we watched as zombie after zombie and skeleton after skeleton burned into ashes amidst her wall of flame. She is powerful beyond what even I understood fully it is not just her magic but a keen and fast working mind that make her such an asset. The fire did not kill all of them and we were pressed into battle with the last of the horde when Dalton was struck down, his life seemed to be fading quickly though I managed to reclaim him from the jaws of oblivion with a well placed spell...We pressed on stopping briefly to rest we soon found ourselves crossing through lesser guarded rooms until we cam across a Medusa or what had once been a Medusa. We fought bravely slaying its guardians but it managed to catch both Mathan and Gran our...thief is a kind word for him, with its gaze turning them both into naught but stone. Dalton,Alarice and I managed to slay the beast and then our loyal and wise mage went to removing the petrification from there forms, We pressed on and found the third mage guarded by more undead, he was the Necromancer and a powerful one his negative energy sapped my strength from my muscles. It was with the thanks of my Lords help and his divine power I shrugged that off and made it through the battle, Mathan though detestable and evil by nature...I was glad to have him there for his skill with a blade is matched perhaps only by my faith in Saint Cuthbert. I asked him briefly about how to make my weapon stronger...I wish to be of aid...so badly. We gathered the portal pieces and moved on...it was time for the real battle.

The portal pieces worked but they took us not to another room or a library but I think to the past if I judged right by the journals we were at the tower during the outposts time of siege, assaulted by...inhuman creatures very strong I could barley stand up right after but a single blow. There was more...the area seemed tainted as if the hands of Devils and Demons alike were clawing at my flesh and soul as if the voices of Azmodaeus himself was clawing at my mind seeking to force me to succumb to his tainted will. We fought on and with team work slew the wizard we were sent to kill, grabbed her amulet and ran for the portal only the mage, Alarice, she was not there! (I am...loathe to admit it but I have become very fond of Alarice...she is...my friend? Yes I suppose, I know not if it is acceptable to my Lord considering she is of another faith and such a fool to look Evil in the face and ignore it at times but I cannot help but feel close to her.) I swiftly returned inside the tower to use the portal and go back for her, sure she had been ambushed and even now lay bleeding and in need of aid, Alarice is powerful but even she cannot take on a horde of those beast alone only I found the door locked, angered and worried I rushed back to get Gran and Mathan if Gran could not open the door surely the Gnoll could break it down? I was relived to find Alarice back with us though I disguised my relief with anger, we divided up the loot and went our seperate ways...

-Rp bit for Rosery (Despite me not being there it actually makes sense and goes with her Journal so hope no one minds-)


 I didn't know what to do I had no crafting to do right then and I did not want to be a bother to Alarice I know how we all value privacy and solitude sometimes and the Gnoll was going so that gave me more reason not to go. I returned to Hale and purchased a room at the Inn I did not want to go back to the forest I suddenly found myself yearning to be as alone as I could be without worry of interruption or being asked to talk. I find myself sitting here writing this on the edge of a bed in an Inn and I can think only of The Mourning. There is but one explanation for these thoughts I am obsessed with it may Saint Cuthbert have mercy on my mind perhaps there are things mortals are not meant to see, I think of my dear brother locked away unable to hold a coherent conversation with myself or my sisters. I think of that and feel anger swell and then The Mourning edges its way back into my mind, I shall find it I think...I shall spend my life searching for it. I am going to go to Lagash on the morrow and see the father at the Church of my Lord, I will ask him of The Mourning and should he not know I will inquire in a few other places I may even inquire with Alarice for she is knowledgeable about much and if the Father does not know than she will. I will not ask my companions to accompany me this is a quest for me and me alone, I pray they will forgive me for leaving but I will return to them once I have found it and I will finally be able to prove of some use but so long as this...painful obsession remains I am only a liability to them all. I seek sleep now, fatigue gnaws my vision and the darkness beckons me home....I wonder if I shall sleep of it again of that place....Saint Cuthbert watch over me and my allies while we sleep and protect us from the darkness that evil spreads, protect us from the Devils that prowl the night...

(Wee my first write up, sorry if its a little long winded I felt like writing )

[Psyche]

Broken up into three posts below.  It's rather long, sorry. I am such a dork

From the perspective of one Alarice Lynch.


Who says wizards never have any skills in the crafting arts?  The delicate work of creating wands can easily be applied to crafting armour.  Rosery came to me, dreading the thought of incorrectly setting a fragile gem into her belt.  I offered to help her (provided I not be required to pay for any of the materials).  Her mind seemed elsewhere, even after I was done carefully fixing the stone in place and she was casting the finishing spells.  At a later date, I shall have to inquire as to what has her so distracted. 

After the crafting was complete, we quickly made our way to the tower of the rogue mage - we had been holding up the party.  We entered the tower and found a room with three small receptacles and a floor full of runes.  It looked like they had something to do with a inactive portal.  Perhaps we had to find the keys.

We entered into the natural caverns under the tower and went about slaying the hideous creatures inside - fiendish panthers and hell hounds.  Mathan got bitten a lot, as usual and whined about it - as usual. 

We eventually came upon an apprentice conjurer along with his pet skeleton-Medusa.  Fortunately, I was able to keep back and avert my eyes.  It was pretty obvious who stared at her by the end of the battle - Mathan and that asshat, Gran, had their flesh harden into rock.

I had two scrolls of Stone to Flesh which I had purchased for an ungodly price from that odd kobold in the Lagash market.  There was hardly a reason to leave Mathan - a strong fighter - like that (poor fool is practically wrapped around my finger - whether I want it or not) but that... spy... well, I don't trust him farther then I can spit.  Barely a reason to waste such a valuable scroll on him.  I tried to get a bargain out of him, but he stalled and the others finally started bickering so violently, it was easier just to waste the scroll.  I'm not done with the little bastard though. 

I discovered a shard of crystal on the conjurer's body.  It was the kind of crystal often used to conduct powerful magics.  Undoubtedly, it would go into one of the receptacles and be used to funnel magical energy to open the portal, along with two other crystal shards.  From the looks of it, the apprentices of the rogue mage were collecting these shards.

We continued to the large ruinous section of the tower and managed to avoided a very large black dragon, although for some reason Rosery seemed disgruntled about doing so. 

Very shortly afterwards, we came across an apprentice illusionist.  His methodologies were crude but brutal and he cursed Rosery and terrified Mathan so that I thought he might wet himself.  The coward ran away and tried to hid behind me, but it was probably for the best: upon seeing what we were up against, I tried to bind some extra help. 
...Unfortunately, the creature proved harder to bend to my will then I had first anticipated.  It broke free and started to attack me.  If cowering Mathan hadn't snapped out of it and engaged it long enough for me to get away, I'm not sure what would have happened.  Really though, I'm feel sure it was his fault the summon broke free in the first place - his whimpering was a large distraction. 

The others were still fighting the illusionist, but they also managed to take out my summon before he became too much trouble and the illusionist was sliced down rather quickly after that and his shard acquired.  More whining about being stabbed ensued from the Gnoll.

We continued onto the last area - a series of catacombs infested with undead.  Rosery was able to shine here - the soulless undead took one look at the fire burning in her eyes and turned in fear. 

As we came into a small room, I noticed that a huge swarm of undead was slowly making it's way to us from just beyond the doorway - I cast up four Walls of Fire before they could cross the threshold and one by one, most of the horde was turned to ash.  Only the strongest came through, but they were dispatched.   I was surprised when the others started praising my quick-thinking - normally when I cast any spell involving fire, it ends in a lot of shouting.  I can't say I was not flattered, but I'm not one to brag.  Of course, the gnoll moaned about the many bloody wounds he received killing the zombies, but I think Dalton had the worst time of it - Rosery had to pull him back from the brink of dead when he was swarmed by the undead unexpectedly.

[Psyche]

(continued)

We took the last shard and went back to the inactive portal.  The runes didn't seem to have anything to do with the portal, but I wondered if they were important.  We put the shards into the receptacles and stepped back.  Almost immediately, there was a flash of light and a glowing portal stood before us.  Mathan, with his usual carelessness, tried to jump into the portal before it had fully stabilized and near fell into a magic abyss.  We managed to pull him back out before he was lost, but all the magical wards that had been placed on him had been stripped.  Finally, cautiously, I stepped through, the portal's energy making my fingers tingle. 

I saw before me what appeared to be another plane of reality - I could barely make sense of it. By the time the tingling was gone from my hands, I was struck with the feeling of having swallowed a living oil.  It was a physical pain, almost akin to having a leech sucking my blood from inside my stomach lining but more then that, it was something intangible. 

It is hard to describe, but I will try.  I have come far closer to death in my life then I have ever wanted to, and yet  the ethereal feeling of your life-blood seeping away was nothing compared to this. 

This was as cold as it was seductive - a liquid tendril squirming through my mind, an unlife so great, I wonder now if there might be an even higher power then I had originally thought. 

I felt something like this in my dream, although in my dream it was terrifying beyond belief.  There in that tower, it did not inspire a great fear in me, but instead an exquisitely painful yearning as if I was nothing more then an addict craving the next time she can jam a needle into her veins.

I must find out more about this Desire, whatever it is.  And I'm sure it has something to do with the information I seek already - about Ghennova and Sargon.

But I digress.  We were all standing in this other realm, surrounded by abhuman creatures eager to gnaw on our bloody remains.  One or two fireballs (before the fighters even had time to get in the way!) was enough to let the fighters take them out without too much difficulty.  The much harder fight came afterwards - we found the rogue mage and she was not happy to see us.  I was barely able to summon in time to save my hide as I was chased down by one of the horrible abhumans.

The gnoll got especially bloody in that battle - I have used so many bandages on his wounds, I'm not sure my robes will ever be clean of all of his blood - and as usual, when the battle was finally over, he cried and whined about it.

The mage slain, I brushed myself off and looked around. I saw many chests and ...runes!  Like the ones we had seen before, but in no visible pattern.  I was sure there had to be a way to trigger them, but the others were desperate to get out - there was a portal just ahead. 

I waited until they had all gone before trying to decipher the runes.  The cold feeling was still gnawing at me, but my curiosity was too great to leave just yet.  Finally, after several minutes of testing with no success, I gave up and went on through the portal.

As I stepped through, the portal shut behind me.  Rosery looked angry while the others mostly looked confused - wondering where I had been no doubt.  It didn't take long for Rosery to start lecturing me. Who does she think she is!  I do not follow under her - I am not a pet she can drag about on a leash.  Perhaps I was wrong about her.  I suppose we shall see. 

Mathan seemed relieved to see me and gave me a flower - "For your hair," he said.  I really don't know what to do about him.  I almost wish... But no matter.

I proceeded to divide up the treasure equally - we found some very nice treasure and beautiful gems.  WeeJas would be most impressed by such pretty things. 

That mustachioed moron, Gran - although he opened up most of the chests - didn't seem to have much to offer to the pile of loot when it was being disturbed.  I shall have to keep an eye on him.  And get my gold for that Stone to Flesh scroll.  Hmm, I should write that down on my list of things to do.

After that, the others said goodnight and left.  I no longer have a home to go to but as long as I have a warm inn, I'll be fine. 

[Psyche]

(continued)

Of course, that damned gnoll!  I think he is starting to follow me.  He can actually be adorable at times but he's still a seven foot tall gnoll.  It makes me uncomfortably aware how small I am and how he stares at me when I have used most of my spells for the day.  But I have had no reason to distrust him.  There's no point in being more paranoid then I already am.

The feeling of that Taint, that Desire, whatever it was that clung to me in the other realm - the feeling of it was already fading in my mind and I wanted to find out more about Sargon. 

I decided I need more information - a library was a good place to start. 

I dared not wander farther into Lagash in case I was recognized - so the Mages' College was out of the question, but the church of Saint Cuthbert... There was one near the market square and they had a small collection of books, I recalled.

When I went to talk to the Father, he started by telling me my hands are grubby - what nerve!  WeeJas would be most displeased if I were to let my appearance become shabby in any way; she is wise and knows the value of appearance, though some fools may call her a vain god. 

I suppose I could have been more polite in replying to the Father, but his gibe about being filthy angered me more then it should.  Mathan foolishly drew attention to himself defending me, and the Father, seeing a gnoll before him (but perhaps not entirely realizing what Mathan is) called him a monkey and tried to scry on my mind.  That was really the last straw.  I quickly put up Mind Blank and Mathan sulked away.   Icily, I asked to see the collections of books they might have on Sargon. 

The priest did not have any useful knowledge, nor did the public collection of books he had available.  I was frustrated - even more so when I realized that the church had an entire other room full of rare texts I was not allowed to see.

Looking back on it now, I would have been better off to ask Rosery for help but in my anger, I didn't think of such things.  Instead, I turned to the gnoll.  I found him attacking a beggar in the courtyard.  I'm not sure what the man said to offend him, but I managed to drag the gnoll away before he killed him.

I took the gnoll to the inn and cast a quick spell to ward off eavesdroppers.  I needed to formulate a plan to get into the private book collection but before I could even start explaining anything to Mathan, there was a shout outside, calling for us to surrender.  I still don't know how they found me.  I know I am wanted but I am not much more then a minor annoyance in the eyes of Lagash - an escaped prisoner perhaps, but hardly a threat.  But there was dozens of guards waiting for us.

I cast invisibility on both of us, but Mathan brushed up against one of the guards as we were nearly out or maybe they just smelled him.  He was knocked down and beaten into unconsciousness.  Twice I was nearly killed, but I managed to drag his body away, under cover of improved invisibility.  He woke up just as I got out of Lagash and we ran. 

We ran through Greenleaf Forest, all the way into the mountains before we were forced to camp for the night.  It was snowy and that idiot gnoll gave me a blanket.  I felt bad for only a moment before I cursed his name silently - if the fool wanted to freeze, then let him.  I owe him nothing.

We walked through a forest the next morning, completely lost.  Ahead, I saw the most unexpected thing I could have imagined: the gypsy's wagon, the same gypsy who had helped us before. 

We went in separately and what she told me I shall not repeat, not even on paper. 

The gnoll would not tell me what the gypsy told him either, even though I coaxed him to confide in me.  It annoys me I cannot know what they conversed about but I suppose I will have to wait until he is ready to tell me.

The only thing that he would tell me, after we found our way back home (narrowly avoiding being eaten by a gelatinous cube and a giant worm) was that he was a gnoll.

Seems obvious enough to me.

Now that I have written this down, I will burn these pages - the thoughts have been sorted in my head and I shall not leave clues to my mind for anyone to find.

Signed,
Alarice Lynch

[Ytts]

Session #7
Posts Below

[Moondog]

Mathan's Journal: Entry #7

One hell of a day today. Spent most of it cutting things down. Like usual, really. Nothing new there. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I blame other situa- sit... circumstances for my lack of clarity at the moment.  I'll start from the top.

We had already sliced and diced our way through the tower. I slew the mage just like I was supposed to. Mission complete, no problem. While everyone else waited for Alarice at camp, I busied myself learning how to sew - I know it's not exactly a 'warrior' type of skill, but if I don't learn how to, my clothes are going to fall to pieces faster than a kobold at the end of my sword.

When she showed up, we all headed for Hale. Sliced a few bandits to shreds on the way there as a nice way to make the drinks taste better at the pub... it's strange. I remember those bandits being far more difficult to deal with less than a month ago. They must be getting weaker and weaker as we kill off the strong ones. I'm happy for it; But I digress.

We entered Hale under cover of night and ran smack into the Weird Attendant guy. Shrimpy little thing, made of cloth and stuffing and magic, I assume. (If you ask me, he's probably a group of intelligent squirrels in a suit) He led us to an abandonend shop, where I took a seat on the counter. He paid us our six thousand gold pieces for killing the mage. I'm hardly greedy, but even I can't help but smile feeling the weight of gold in my bag.

Blood money is what it is - I've never joked about it to myself. I've been accepting money in exchange for what's essentially murder. Heh, and you know what? It doesn't bother me at all.  People do enough stupid crap to get on the wrong sides of guys with enough money to hire me? They probably deserve getting cut to shreds. I know why I accept these jobs, accept this money.

The 'spy' (Alarice's words, not mine)? Judging from what he said in the shop, I figure he's up to his nuts in debt, so he accepts to keep the loan sharks at bay. The druid? He follows us because of some weird sense of loyalty, or something of the sort; I won't even pretend to get it. The elf? Who the hell knows, she's always gone.

But what I don't understand is the priestess - I don't understand why she does it. She's always so concerned with 'doing justice' or 'smiting the wicked' or... just, stuff like that. I wonder if she realizes that she's accepting blood money?

Oh well, it's hardly important. She's who she is, and I'm me, right? Well, long story short - Creepy Attendant decided to ask us if we wanted to go on ANOTHER job. I need to grab all the dough I can - the better to get me the best equipment I can, so I can do my job (killing stuff) even better, to make more money, to get bette- you get the picture, right?

Eight thousand gold, and all we need to do is murder our way through eighty or so soldiers under the city of Lagash. More blood money. Perfect. I'm starting to like this guy. He knows what I'm good at, and pays me to do it. Basically, the job is this - From the sewers of Hale, sneak past Innsmouth, infiltrate the sewers of Lagash, find the underbase of one Jullian, and kill him.

We had a little less than a day to prepare. I remember the last time I was in Innsmouth - hell, it feels like I was another person then. A dumber person, in fact. Back then, I carried only my sword and armor. No back up, no plans in case it got lost. Not this time; I would NOT be stuck wandering without a weapon because of fishmen. I went to the smith's and grabbed a few bars of iron and steel and went to work crafting a back up sword.

When I finished, it was big, unsubtle, and unrefined. There was no 'art' to the weapon - it was simply a large butcher knife. Which, if you ask me, captures the essence of a sword entirely. They're not art pieces, they're tools to cut people down. Who needs them to look like anything else?

By the time I had finished,  it was getting late. The man with the mustache game in to do some shopping. I assume he was picking up bolts for his crossbow. The man's an excellent shot, I have to admit. Frail, but a great shot. I waited for him to finish and he and I headed to the pub together. We had some 'man talk'. I was curious, I wanted to know what he thought... "So, Gran," I said. "Alarice, Shra, or Rosery?" I asked him.  Just as I'd predicted, he said he wouldn't turn any of 'em away. Man's an opportunist, and I can respect that. He's not a bad guy, really.

Alarice came in as I was just about to remark on my own tastes. As I have a great aversion to fireballs, I decided to stifle. She dragged me outta the pub for some quality talking time. Nothing really important. Probably avoiding the cleric, come to think of it.

The day soon came, and down into the caverns and sewers we went. The first section wasn't that bad. A few goblins, a bugbear or thirty, no big deal. They got in my way, I cut them down, and we kept on movin'. I kept finding myself fighting side by side with Gran - who, surprisingly enough, is even better at finding the vital points than I am. When we team up, the poor target's doomed. If my sword doesn't find their kidneys, his rapier takes their lungs. I like Gran.

It wasn't too long before we found ourselves in the caverns under Innsmouth. Just being in that place made me shiver. Not with fear... but with a cold sense of purpose. Last time I was there, I had been disarmed, and was running for my life from the hordes of freaks under there. This time... though? They were the ones who should have ran. They died in droves. One or two got lucky and ripped my weapon from my hands. For all the good it did them. I lost one weapon, I drew the other one and cut them down with that.

Of course, that's skipping an important point. We were supposed to sneak our way through the caverns, avoiding rousing the trash that lay in wait under the city. Someone screwed it up - I think it was the mage Alarice.

It didn't matter to me though. Sneaking through or slicing through, either way, we got what needed to be done done.

Through the caverns and into the sewers of Lagash. No big deal so far. At least, until I realized that the sewers were full of the kind of creatures that would have given me nightmares before. Giant beetles, angry midgets, goblins, even a few bandits. All of those I sliced to ribbons, no problem, no worry.

But then there were the giant...wiggly blocks of... ugh. Just horrible things. And then there were the leeches. Those things somehow punched through my armor as if it was tissue and started sucking out my blood. Luckily for me, I have friends to keep me alive while I slaughter the damn things one at a time. Still, everything was going smoothly enough.

We found our way into a real maze of sewer works. Had to slaughter some undead (why they were there, I have no clue), punched a few more bugbears to death, that kind of thing. Then we found hints of our mark. A sentry here and there... they died quickly. We sliced and diced our way through eh, thirty or so, 'til we got to a bridge. They'd known we were coming, and so they were fortified. I and the priestess held the line as best we could... while Alarice leveled tens of them at a time with fireballs. That's the problem with tight formations. They don't let you run away from fireballs.

We found our target after a while. I have to admit, the man was a brilliant combatant. His guard was nearly flawless... and he had backup. I was sorely pressed and wounded in that fight. Had it not been for the timely healing, I'd have been cut down. Healed, I re-engaged Jullian... and kept him busy while Alarice worked her spells and whittled him down. She took the killing blow with a volley of magic missiles, things that no warrior can block with a strong sword arm. It's rather scary how useful magic is compared to a sword.

'Course, unlike her... I don't run out of swings.

The guys were absolutely loaded. Treasure horde, a corpse that had to be the world's best equipped merchant... oh, it was pretty amazing. I snatched up a gem or two, grabbed a sword for Gran as he'd proved his worth in combat, and stuffed the rest of the crap nobody else wanted in my bag. I'm carrying a lot of things now. Even I'm almost at my limit. I'll dole it out to whoever wants the stuff."

With the loot taken, and the promise of payment dancing in my head, I was still excited to explore the place. Without the mercenaries (well trained, certainly) to worry about, everything else was simple enough to take down. A spider here and there, a bugbear nest, you name it. I checked out the kitchen, killing doors that got in my way, some angry midgets... and I even stopped and chatted with a kobold and a goblin while I was at it. Nice guys, those two. Disturbingly short though.

Well, since I didn't want to let the ladies walk unaccompanied and unprotected, I had to curtail my explorations to walk with them. We came out of the sewers and up into Lagash proper - right next to the mage's academy. Which was both barricaded and empty on the first floor. Empty... save for a dwarf both women seemed to know. I think Gran had taken to the roof-tops to escape Lagash or something of the sort, since he wasn't there.

I'll skip the unimportant crap. The dwarf tossed us into a 'Dreamscape'. The priestess and I ended up in a rather nice green field, complete with pretty flowers and a temple. Alarice, though... I don't know where she was, but from her screams and attitude afterwards, it was somewhere real nasty.

...There was something there in the Dreamscape. Something I've seen once before, and never want to see again. That bastard in his mask. You'll see. I'll find out who and what he is, get enough magic on me to make his pissy little spells worthless and then cut him down like the trash he is. Chase me, will he? Abuse his aura of terror? I'll slaughter him.

We soon found a portal out of the dreamscape, and into the forest. Alarice was trembling, shivering in terror underneath a tree. The priestess... she was acting bizzarely. I knew why, of course, but far be it from me to reveal what was plainly on her face. But I sat down to organize my thoughts, while the women dealt with theirs in their own way.

Alarice shivered and trembled, then turned her fear into anger - Unfounded anger at me, and for the damndest stupid reason. Anger at the priestess, anger at everything. It wasn't too long before she had angered herself back to normal, back to her usual self. I dislike seeing her trembling and afraid. It reminds me that me being there isn't e- bah, I won't waste any words on it.

The other woman dealt with her fear by getting first angry, then hurt, then outraged. "How DARE you think I would ever leave you!" she shouted, staring at the mage, redfaced. Lemme tell you, that flush to her cheeks wasn't there because she was angry. I may not look it, or even act it, but I can read people well enough.

She was struggling with something far worse than 'why does Alarice think I'd leave her alone". That's all I'll write of that matter for now.

Through a gate, we strode through a grassy plain... where the women talked to each other. I busied myself by fishing in a lake while they talked. What all they said wasn't important in itself... but the end result was impressive enough. Alarice had the priestess eating out of her hand, and convinced to take the Black Powder.

I've touched that stuff once before. And that's all I'll ever touch it. Once and once only.

We left the plains for a more familiar forest. There, we made  camp in one corner, next to a waterfall. I sat guard while the women chatted some more... up until the priestess went ahead and snorted the powder.  Then I had to not only stand guard over the camp while Alarice tended to her, but be on hand to apply anti-venom and healing herbs as rapidly as possible. Three ogres, partly machine (it looked like) attacked us at intervals. One of them got a lucky hit in, nearly took me down... but I cut in half in retaliation, then resumed my guard without complaint.

While the drugged up gal was doing whatever she was doing, Alarice and I chatted some.
I won't waste the space here on what we talked about, but I will make a note - "Reserve a suite at a nice Inn".

It wasn't long before our charge was moaning in her 'sleep' and began coughing up blood and vomiting. We were both on hand to keep her alive, and alive she stayed. When she finally got up, it was as if she were possessed. She spoke in a tongue I only recognized as  Celestial after downing a potion of Comprehend Languages. What she said... was disturbing at best.

Meteors fell, spirits floated above the ground, and a shape of red light appeared. She spouted some crap about summoning Azat-somethin' from somewhere, then blabbed on about Incabulos (seriously bad mojo, that god).  When she had FINALLY come of out it, she was horrified... which I can understand. I've been through much the same.

Though, I can't say I came out of it with quite the same expression of bliss on my face as she did. Looks like someone saw, and fell hard for one of the temptations of that nasty place. I'd feel sorry for her, but she's daft to fall for something like that. Nothing in that dark, cold place should be taken for anything more than its worth. Dark visions, the kind of things the insane see, and the mad prophets write of.

When everyone else had calmed down, Alarice teleported us all to the Church in Lagash, of all places. I sat quietly while Rosery gushed on and on about justice and truth and Cuthbert and all that garbage. Perhaps she can't see it at all, but there's no way in the Nine Hells that 'Father William' is legit. He's probably a decent priest, but I'm certain he sold us out  before. I've no proof as of yet, and so he still lives.

When our business in the church was finished... we ran for our lives towards the camp. I downed a potion of speed and was half-way across the fields before anyone ever knew I was there, easy as pie.

We returned to camp. I sat down to rest while the women went off to talk.

...Ok, so I took my armor off to move quietly and followed them while out of sight. After how they were both acting today, I didn't think it would be safe to let them run around out of sight, especially with a small war going on in Lagash, which was still uncomfortably close.

They talked at length... and while I'm not so uncouth as to write down what exactly was said, I'll say simply that what was written plainly on the cleric's face was laid out bare in that conversation. I will admit... she's somewhat cute when she's sputtering and studdering because she doesn't know how to phrase things, with her face redder than a ripe tomato.

I returned to camp before either of the women knew I had been there. No need to cause trouble like that.

There's more to tell, but I don't think there's any need to write specifics.

But I did learn something interesting. Apparently I 'taste like chicken'.

[Psyche]

Musings of one Alarice Lynch.

Lately, I have found that it has been difficult to sleep - more and more often the thoughts in my head fight to be heard and I find my being forced to pen them down.  A weakness, really and not something I have ever indulged in before now. 

And so it is I find myself scrawling this down.
---


After murdering the rogue mage, Gran, Rosery, the gnoll, Mathan, and I were summoned to collect our payment a day later by that sack of hot air and magic.  I had thought the puppet would pay us and send us on our way, but he gave us another job - one that paid even more then the last. 

The cleric got sniffy when I pointed out that it was money for the murder of more then eighty people - apparently if you work for the wrong man, you are evil enough to warrant smiting. 

Regardless, (and regardless of the fact the puppet cast an enchantment that would kill us if we failed) we took the job and set about preparing for the next day, when we would be forced into those dark, cramped, airless sewers.

The cleric nagged me into helping her with enchanting her weapon and I was forced to set aside drinking and assist her.  I failed to set the gem the first time - I think the gnoll had his greasy mitts on the gem before I did - but I succeeded on the second try.  I excused myself and quickly left.  Rosery looked like she wanted to say something to me and I was in no mood to be lectured again.

I came into the inn just in time to hear Gran and the gnoll talking.  Mathan said something and I heard my name clearly, but they refused to tell me what they had been talking about.  For once, I decided to leave it be - besides, I think I know what they were talking about.  Mathan is obvious and Gran strikes me as the type who would jump anyone who would let him.  How very classy those two are.

The next morning we went down into the sewer and wandered them until we came out in Innsmouth.  It's times like these I am glad I don't rely on anything that can be so easily stolen from me.  All I need is my sanity, not a shiny bit of sharp metal.

We made it past Innsmouth and ran for the connecting sewers.  It took us awhile, but we finally started seeing signs of the mercenaries we had been sent to kill.  A scout here or there, but it wasn't until we were deep in the sewers that we found the Captian Juiland or Juliard, something like that. 

The bastard was able to dodge almost every blow the others threw at him but there isn't a soldier alive that can block a swarm of magic missiles.  Dodge that.  I must admit, it felt good to watch him fall, knowing that I had landed the killing blow.  I've done it before, but the rush that comes from it - well, I challenge any paladin to claim they don't enjoy the sheer power of taking a life, even if they claim it's for "good".

I recorded the list of goods we found and we split up a few of the more useful items, with Mathan stashing the rest in his pack.  I swear, he's loaded up like a pack horse and he doesn't even flinch.  It's impressive, really.

None of us wanted to go back through Innsmouth, so we made our way out of a sewer grate near the Lagash School of Magic.  It was deserted.  A disgrace that the battle would ever cross into the school!  It is a place of knowledge, a sanctuary for those who wish to learn.

Inside, we thought we were alone, until a small, stout dwarf stepped out from behind a bookshelf.  That dwarf, Azul!  It hasn't been that long, but I had almost forgotten about the dwarf that helped us escape from the prison mines.

He refused to answer most of our questions, but he told the cleric that he could take us to the "Dreamscape" as he called it.  I tried to get the others to listen - something was nagging at me, a thought that I couldn't quite bring to existence.  I knew that something was wrong, but trapped, we can no choice but to accept his offer.  The others stepped through the portal he created and with a sinking feeling, I stepped after.

I came out in total blackness and something in the air was sapping the strength from my body.  And I felt the Shadow again. 

I panicked, screamed.  The fear from my dreams was upon me again, smothering me until I choked on my own calls for help.  Then I was out, blind in the sudden bright light, grass under my knees, but I knew that... thing... was following after. 

The others dragged me out of the portal they came through and we were out, in a dark forest.  My eyes finally adjusted and I dragged myself away.  I am not pleased to admit it, but I could barely keep myself from screaming even after we got out that awful place.  I did not see the hooded figure very well this time, but his silhouette was burning in my mind even as I tried to calm myself.

Rosery tried to force me to speak of what happened, tried to tell me she understood my horror - comparing the Silent One with the minor demon that drove her brother to retardation.  Even now, it makes my pen hand shake in anger at recounting her sheer ignorance - but it did give me an idea.  Her ignorance could prove useful. 

We continued on and as the gnoll wandered ahead, I pulled Rosery aside.  Mathan had said things, small hints about how Rosery felt about me and I decided to test out his theory.  The quick blush as I touched her arm confirmed it. 

Oh, cleric. 
A helpful tip - if that woman of your dreams suddenly shows interest in you, only to then bring up a small favor... especially if it has to do with Black Dust - well, you get the picture.

We came to deal - she would take the black dust for my help with gathering information.  I am certain I got the better end of that deal.  And to think I was getting so desperate I was going to try the black dust myself.

We settled in and Rosery took the dust.  She passed out but for a little while all she did was mumble quietly.  Her pack lay abandoned on the ground and I shuffled through it absentmindedly until I saw a small book, which I quietly tucked away. I had a drink or two while talking to Mathan.  I don't know what it is about that gnoll.  It seems even on these pages, I can't make sense of to do about him.

Rosery started shivering, muttering half sentences and nonsense.  I tended to her as she started to cough up blood.  Then she was on her feet, screaming in another language.  Mathan told me she was... she was summoning something.  Saying something about giving me knowledge.  Except it couldn't have possibly have been Rosery doing these things.

She grabbed me, pulled me close and spoke to me, whispers of something following us.

I don't know what she was talking about and I couldn't get anything more from her. After that Rosery collapsed and when we woke her again, she was so frightened she could barely speak.  The look she gave me...

Out from the glyphs she had magically etched into the soil, living slimes poured through, forcing us to flee.

When we had finally put enough distance behind us, I asked Rosery to tell me all that she had seen.  What she eventually told me has given me much to think about.  There are names that she mentioned that trouble me greatly.

The gypsy sold me a teleportation charm and I decided to use it.  It was almost useless now - I had set the end destination to be the Church of Cuthbert in Lagash to help in my... retrieval of the books they hold.  That plan had fallen through, but Rosery was begging to go to her church.  Not really a safe place, Lagash, but it was better then being lost in the forest.

The teleportation was more difficult then I had thought it would be and it left me breathless.  I had plenty of time to recover while Rosery talked to the priest and Mathan and I waited, invisible.  I took the chance to read through the book I had taken from Rosery.  It appeared to be her journal - in it she had written a few things about her daily life and the weapon she hoped to find.  I noticed, uncomfortably, that my name was mentioned more then a few times.

We had to run out of Lagash after that.  It was not pleasant - the General's hired army was in Corinn and they gave a rather painful chase.  We lost them near Miller's Road and made our way back to the campsite. 

When we got back to the campsite, I pulled Rosery aside - she seemed to be holding back about something she had seen in her vision.

I know no one will read this - before the ink dries on these pages, they will be ashes - but even written here, it makes me uncomfortable to recount what she told me that she saw. 

She told me that I held her and whispered all the sweet things a lover would ever say.  I do not think about such things: no woman should feel that way about another.  And yet images come to my mind that...

Agh!  I am going around in circles.  What matters is that I had read her journal and I knew she was planning to leave the group - I told her so and I am not ashamed to say I gave her ample reason for her to stay.  Hints of things.  Things she wants to believe.  And a small taste of my lips.  There is no sense in losing a healer and strong companion.  Beside, she is easy to mold, which is always useful.  She left, promising to stay.

After that, I made my way back to the gnoll.  My thoughts have been so muddled of late, sometimes I don't even know if the voices in my head are completely my own.  I am not sure why I felt the need to, but I told the gnoll of how I used Rosery.  He listened and I told him something else.  And then, I said nothing at all. 

Undoubtedly, the confidence I place with the gnoll will come back to haunt me, but lately I have found myself far too weary to care very much...  It is a cheap pleasure, but it is nice to be told that I taste of strawberries.