NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Old One" data-source="post: 1999692" data-attributes="member: 83">Session 26 (Part One)In honor of Willpax stopping by (and me seeing that he stopped by), I thought I would drop in a quick update...Crypt of HorrorCragen, sweating profusely beneath his scale armor, cursed for the third time, squared his broad-shoulders and raised the symbol of Moradin.  Violet light pulsed as he reached deep within his consciousness, seeking the grace of his God with his mind.  That tiny corner of his mind that never seemed to stay on task wandered – rolling the events of the last week over and over.The departure of the Emorians and the survivors of the disastrous Battle at the Bridge had left their combat power seriously depleted.  During more lucid moments of their trek north, following the undead army along the Lords road, the companions had questioned the sanity of four (or four and an undead half) against four hundred, but they were driven…determined to succeed or die trying.  The trail split in the lofty hills above the shattered ruins of Lords; the larger trail led towards the desolate city, the smaller into a narrow canyon that snaked north and east through the hills.They had chosen to follow the smaller trail and that trail deposited them before their current predicament…an ancient, faded rune-encrusted doorway, pulsing with subtle, dark energy that, thus far, had resisted all of their attempts to pass.  Rosë’s tried to dig around it, Rowan’s attempted to locate an opening mechanism and the combined efforts of the whole party had failed to force the portal.  Several hours of frustration spawned no ready answer and Rowan’s idle off-hand comment that their current position – at the end of a narrow box canyon with steep, 20-pace high walls – was a fine place for an ambush.Inspiration had struck Cragen from far back in his religious training, a remembrance that some portals could be opened or forced through pure faith.  Thus, for nearly an hour, the dwarf called upon his inner power and pitted it against the door.  Several times he felt the magic barring them waver and retreat, but his faith was not enough to open the way.  Thus, he gathered his will for the sixth time and hurled it at the stubborn door.Cragen’s full mind snapped back to the present as he hammered his will against the door.  Sweat washed down his body and matted his beard.  He felt invisible cracks begin to appear in the barrier and tried to pour his faith into the gaps.  Finally, the strain was too great and the dwarf cried out and fell to his knees, releasing his will.  The invisible force snapped back into place like a spider’s web rebounding after snaring an unwary fly.He pounded his iron-clad fist into the hard ground in frustration and howled.  His baritone echoed down the canyon and arroyos.  He shook his shaggy head, “I am defeated.”Rowan and Rosë exchanged helpless looks while Sextus stroked his chin with a delicate hand.  The bard wondered aloud, “Perhaps it only works for undead…”The younger Scipio’s voice trailed off as he turned and stared at the forgotten Garrick.Three other sets of eyes snapped to the form of the undead halfling.  Less than a minute later, after hurried instructions, the diminutive zombie stepped to – and through – the portal.  A click and an audible “hiss” soon followed.  The energy field wavered and died, revealing shadowy shallow steps down and a corridor lit with a sickly green hue at the far end.Cragen couldn’t tell of the look the halfling shot him as they trooped down the corridor was one of amusement or disdain, but the cleric’s mood was dark as the sunlight disappeared at their back.To Be Continued…Next: Session 26 (Part Two) – MadnessEnjoy!~ Old One</blockquote>

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