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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spatterlight" data-source="post: 3045148" data-attributes="member: 42734">Session 8September 1, 2006The wizard rose slowly to his feet, Natasha's blade unwaveringly at his throat.The pale skinned man looked at the group and introduced himself as Filge. In the background, Scorch took out the enchanted greataxe that had once belonged to the thug Kullen and proceeded to hack down the remaining zombies. Filge explained that he was a necromancer and had just recently moved into town, saying that had been called by Balabar Smenk. He went onto say that Balabar had helped the necromancer gain entrance into the prestigious Wizard Academy in the city of Greyhawk in the past and the mine owner had called in the favor.Natasha glared at Filge, "Why has my father called you." The necromancer seemed startled at this, peering at the girl then to the group, focusing on Sergi, "You are his children. I did not recognize you. I suppose you were too young to remember me." He fell silent for a moment then continued, "Your father wanted me to take a look at something. A strange worm that been that had been found in one of the mines. I will show you it and tell you what else I know." The group descended to the makeshift bedroom below the wizard's laboratory.As he entered his chamber, he revealed a secret chamber and took out a small sealed jar. The jar was half-filled with a viscous yellow-brown fluid in which floated a fat gangrenous green worm. Filge explained, "Your father found this in the mines. I got the impression that this was not the only one." The necromancer held the jar in front of him and the worm gave a tepid twitch, "The worm has a connection to the undead, which was why he asked for me to come to Diamond Lake. He has provided me with this former observatory as a secret laboratory to conduct my research. For I believe ..." Scorch interrupted, "Another classic! A secret laboratory in the old observatory! So, when are we going to see this laboratory?" The necromancer glanced at the gladiator, "You were just in it, you fool!" The gladiator glanced back up the open stairs, "I guess that counts, but traditionally they are underground or you know ... secret."Filge continued, "As I was saying, I believe Balabar would have had more need for my services, as there appears to be a cult known as the Ebon Triad operating in the mines." Seeing the confused looks among the group, Aiyda clarified, "I have heard of these people. They worship three dark gods: Erythnul, Hextor, and Vecna." The necromancer nodded and the group continued questioning him for some time. The group found out that Filge had not personally desecrated the burial plot of the Lands, although he had commissioned the thugs who had done so, for he needed bones for the creation of undead servants. In addition, he also explained that several of the colorful cylinders that were found earlier were his creation; a unique variant of the familiar potion that upon injection were reported to be of greater strength than if imbibed. Lastly, at Scorch's insistence, Filge gave the group the command word for the undead thing that was wrapped in bandages in the necromancer's room, although the gladiator was told the creature no longer functioned properly.After discussing several issues at length, the necromancer asked what was to become of him. Briefly discussing it amongst themselves, the group agreed to let Filge go, with only Sergi dissenting. The sorcerer retreated to the dining chamber in a pout, sitting in the master chair at the table. The group stripped the necromancer of most of his possessions, but did allow him to keep a spellbook the group had found earlier. Scorch offered to see Filge out of the observatory and as they passed the dining chamber, Sergi struck the necromancer with a small jolt of electricity. Sitting smugly at the head of the table, the sorcerer silently dared the necromancer to launch a retaliatory spell. Filge turned to Scorch, "Would you mind if I struck back?" Scorch glared at Sergi, saying to Filge, "Yeah, don't do it. I am sleeping with his sister and if he turns up dead, I will have hell to pay." The necromancer glanced at Scorch, "Your not with the bard?" The gladiator sighed, already starting to like the man, "Nah, she's all tease. No follow through." He hitched a thumb toward the door, "Come on, let's get you out of here before Fancy Pants gets any other bright ideas." Once out on the stairs of the observatory, the gladiator slipped the wizard several gold and platinum coins, "Listen, go back to Greyhawk and lay low for a while. Don't talk to Balabar or his cronies." The necromancer nodded and Scorch continued, "No hard feelings on breaking up your gig here, right?" The necromancer shook his head, "No. And thank you for the coins." The two shook hands and the necromancer made his way to the road, turning the wrong way first, then reversing and heading off to the great city of Greyhawk.Closing the door behind him, Scorch returned to the others. The group quickly set about cleaning up the place a bit and spent the night in the observatory. For the most part, the night was quiet, but Natasha claimed to have seen someone lurking outside after dark. Also, the next morning Doctor Voo looked particularly haggard and explained that Wee Jas Herself had visited him in his dreams. The Witch Goddess told the priest that the Ebon Triad was to be crushed and that he was to be Her hand in this matter. Later that morning, the group received a mysterious message that they were to meet up with a person known only as "C.G.". This rendezvous was to be held the next day, after dark. Following this, the group split into two to accomplish several tasks. Scorch, Max, and Sergi went into town to gather needed supplies. The first stop for the three was the wizard Allustan's house. Sergi purchased the peculiar incenses and other implements that would allow him to summon a familiar. Scorch also brought the broken servant undead to see if Allustan could fix it, but the wizard was unable to divine what was wrong with it. Following this, the gladiator, who had been given a list by Natasha, went out into town to buy some healing scrolls from the Church of St. Cuthbert and some other miscellaneous supplies. Catching up with Max in front of the Emporium, the gladiator declined to visit the brothel with his manager. Max shook his head and made a whipping gesture as he entered the establishment, calling out to the girls beckoning him inside.Meanwhile, Aiyda, Doctor Voo, and Natasha took the bones that had been animated by Filge and returned to the burial plot of the Lands. Doctor Voo, who had carefully sorted all the bones the night before, laid the remains of the Land Family to rest once more. As he did so, he realized that the ghost of Alastor Land would soon disappear from the world, now that its bones were at rest. If the group was to gain passage to the last of the chambers of the Whispering Cairn, they would have to hurry to the tomb.Meeting up at the observatory, the group quickly rented some horses and set off at a gallop to the Whisper Cairn. Finding the tomb as they left it, they used torches to light the seven rainbow lanterns in the main chamber. Climbing back up to the chamber above the blue lantern, the group made their way to the room behind the great stone face. After a few moments, the spirit of Alastor rose from the floor once more and gave a smile. From across the thin stone bridge that rose over a sea of iron balls, the door gave an audible click.Waving to the group, Alastor's ghost once more vanished from sight. The way now cleared, the group started to make their way over the stone bridge. The Smenk siblings and Aiyda darted across the narrow bridge and once more the deadly iron spheres began to fly. Scorch attempted to follow them, but was slowed by his heavy armor and was caught by one of the balls. The thing struck him hard and knocked him off the bridge into the piles of balls below. Meanwhile, Max and Doctor Voo picked their way over the iron balls, choosing a slower but safer path.As the Smenks cleared the bridge, one of them hit the previously locked door and it swung open. Beyond the door was a grand chamber dominated by a huge pit. Rising from the center of the pit was a platform upon which rested a pillar of wind, which gusted to the ceiling. The central platform had once had four narrow bridges to it from a stone ledge that ran the parameter of the room, but two of them had broken off. In each of the corners of the room a great bas-relief could be seen. From the darkness of the pit, three humanoid creatures glided forth. Each of these creatures had thick armor as white as snow and strange wrapping covered in alien runes fluttered about them on unseen winds. In each of their hands was a pale longsword and behind the visors of their helms flickered eyes the color of a clear autumn sky.The creatures silently advanced on the trio at the door and they sprung into action. Aiyda moved into the room, singing a song of hope and light. Natasha dashed in as well; her hammer and shortsword already out. Sergi fired a crossbow bolt and prepared to blast he creatures with magic. Meanwhile, Scorch picked up Max in one hand and held him to the top of the bridge. Both Scorch and Doctor Voo attempted to scale the wall, but their armor held them down.Natasha and one of the guardians meet in melee, with both getting in several telling blows. Aiyda and Sergi, in the mean time, where blasted by lightening as another of the guardians brought its two blades together with a thunderous cacophony. Sergi retreated into the main hallway, blasting the creatures with bolts of magic as he went. Here he dropped to the ground, holding his spear out to help Scorch and Doctor Voo climb up. Aiyda retreated from one of the creatures after unsuccessfully trying to cause the creature to slip on a patch of grease she had conjured with a bawdy cant. She went to help her friend Natasha, who had already been hit several times.Doctor Voo climbed up the wall with Sergi's assistance and hammered at one of the guardians who had made its way into the room of iron spheres. Scorch followed, repaying the sorcerer's kindness by deeply cutting Sergi with his armor spikes as he madly scrambled over him. Grabbing his enchanted greataxe, the gladiator swiped at another guardian who had glided into the trapped chamber, but was unable to connect, the thing deftly avoiding each blow. Max had better luck, his rapier striking one of the creatures several times.The battle grew increasingly desperate as one by one, the group succumbed to their wounds. Two of the guardians were defeated, but by the time these two had fallen, only Scorch still stood. Blood seeping from multiple wounds and his vision wavering, the gladiator was locked in melee with the last of the guardians. Fingering his grip on the blood-slick handle of the greataxe, he knew he would have to finish this now. Exerting the last of his great strength, he brought the greataxe in a vicious overhand arc. The guardian swung back at the last moment and the brutal chop missed by inches, careening into the floor. He staggered back in disbelief, his hands going numb and letting the greataxe clatter to the floor. He whispered, "Not again...", and crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud.The tomb once again fell silent and the sole remaining guardian of air returned to its chamber. For a long time, the quiet was only disturbed by the occasional groan of pain from one of the defeated group. Then from the floor, a ghostly head protruded and slowly took in the gruesome sight before him. Alastor, far too curious to pass into the afterlife without seeing what was on the other side of the door he had lost his life attempting to open, floated beside Doctor Voo. Exerting all his will, he forced his hand into the land of the living and carefully took a potion from the priest's pouch. He poured it into the cleric's mouth, who suddenly came to life sputtering and cursing. The dead boy dropped the empty vial and fled into the floor once more. Doctor Voo quietly tended to those out on the bridge first. Then he shed his armor and quietly crept into the larger chamber to retrieve Aiyda and Natasha without rousing the guardian.The group, some still unconscious but all alive, retreated to the mine office and spent several days recovering before daring to venture back into the Whispering Cairn. During this period, Sergi summoned his familiar, which when he awoke from the heavy trance induced by the ceremony, was found to be the bear cub Natasha had saved. For her own obscure reasons, ranger had named the bear Audit and the sorcerer kept the name. Several days later and once again feeling hale and whole, the group retraced their steps back to the room where they had fought the guardians before. This time, the creature was quickly dispatched as only one guardian remained and the group knew what to expect.The room now cleared of dangers, the group examined each of the great bas-reliefs that where in each of the four corners of the room. Each depicted the great primordial war of Law and Chaos and each moved, retelling the ancient story. In some, the Wind Dukes could be seen warring with the great Miska, the Wolf Spider. The group carefully looked at each, often turning to Aiyda or Sergi to fill them in on what was happening. After the group had investigated these, they turned their attention to the column of wind that whooshed in the center of the chamber. Following the wind, the group could see there appeared to be circular hole in the ceiling. Scorch took out one of the bloodstained rags that he had bought in the Church of St. Cuthbert and dropped it into the column. The rag fluttered for a moment and then shot up the column through the hole.One by one, the group stepped into the column of air, which lofted them into a small chamber. At the far end of the chamber lay another sarcophagus, this one upon a stone platform with a short set of stairs that lead to the sarcophagus. Over the great sarcophagus was another bas-relief, this one showing a noble Wind Duke being struck down by an orb of utter darkness. Max checked the stairs for any of the Wind Dukes' treachery, but found none and continued upwards. As he reached the top of the stairwell, a proud voice spoke out, asking in tongue of the halflings to speak its name. Max looked back at the group uneasily and shrugged, carefully retreating back down to the floor. Aiyda thought hard for several moments, an ancient name dancing on the tip of her tongue. Finally it came to her and a smile spread across her pretty face. Stepping boldly up the stairs, the voice once more intoned, this time in Common, and Aiyda answered.The name spoken, the seam between the lid and base of the sarcophagus shined with azure light. Max crept back up the stairs and carefully examined the seam for any traps but found none. He called up Scorch, Natasha and Doctor Voo to help him open the heavy lid. Before they got there, he decided to give the lid a shove, and it slowly and silently slid off on its own, revealing the remains and treasure of the Wind Dukes.</blockquote>

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