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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 2820006" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong> Session #79 (complete)</strong></p><p></p><p>“So we have a battle-mage, a paladin of Thoth and a small army,” Martin the Green ticked off on his fingers. The Keepers of the Gate had invited the Shepherds to come outside and discuss the situation out of the earshot of Richard the Red’s companions. Finn Fisher had gone on to describe as best he could the company of Neergaardian mercenaries set on capturing Martin.</p><p></p><p>“They call themselves ‘the Company of the Impervious Ward’,” Finn said.</p><p></p><p>“Thirty is not a small army,” Logan said.</p><p></p><p>“It is around here,” Martin quipped.</p><p></p><p>“It is important for you to know that Richard the Red is not to be trusted under any circumstances,” Kazrack told Finn and his friends.</p><p></p><p>“But why not? He has been helping to protect the town from the fire newts,” Finn said, growing annoyed again. “I guess you don’t trust us either because I get the feeling that you have been keeping information from us we might have needed to protect people.”</p><p></p><p>“It is just that Richard the Red is willing to go to lengths that most of us would balk at because we have a conscience,” Ratchis said. “Including using charm magic, and he is seeking a place where great power might be for the taking which are trying to keep anyone from getting their hands on, but mostly the demon-gnomes.”</p><p></p><p>Logan noted that Josef and Carlos shared a quick nervous glance at that.</p><p></p><p>“How has the militia and townspeople reacted to Richard being around?” Roland asked.</p><p></p><p>“Uh, well, he asked us to keep his involvement secret,” Finn said. “He said Martin did such a good job of botching his own reputation that it might not be good for people to know a second representative of the Academy of Wizardry was around.”</p><p></p><p>Roland could not hold back his laugh.</p><p></p><p>“What?” Finn asked.</p><p></p><p>”He <em>is</em> clever,” Roland replied.</p><p></p><p>“We had better get back to town before anyone notices how long we’ve been gone,” Finn said. “But we can get away again later; do you need anything from town?”</p><p></p><p>“More wine,” Roland said.</p><p></p><p>“And a wheel of cheese and some bread,” Logan added.</p><p></p><p>Finn nodded. “I’ll try.”</p><p></p><p>“Remember, we are not here,” Ratchis said to the Shepherds. “And everything we told you was in confidence.”</p><p></p><p>“Don’t worry, you can count us,” Finn said, and the other two nodded. As they walked away Ratchis cast <em>detect charm</em> and saw no aura on their allies.</p><p></p><p>“So we are not going to the Key Room, right?” Ratchis asked the others.</p><p></p><p>“As far as I could tell Richard was telling the truth,” Roland said.</p><p></p><p>“Well, Richard may be telling the truth but still leading us astray,” Kazrack said. “I am against going to this demi-plane place, but I will cast the stones tonight and see what the gods have to say, but if it were up to me I would let Richard’s companions go to this Key Room. If we tell them we are not going and if they do not go themselves, then we know that it was not as important as he made it seem.”</p><p></p><p>“So, we aren’t going unless Kazrack’s gods are very clear in their indication, right?” Ratchis re-iterated.</p><p></p><p>“I can <em>commune</em> with my goddess as well, but it will have to wait for tomorrow as I do not have the spell prepared,” Roland said.</p><p></p><p>“And even if we don’t seek out this Key Room, we should get these companions of Richard’s to come with us,” Logan said. “You all keep talking about how the Maze is near-certain death, so why not bring some more warm bodies and even up the odds some?”</p><p></p><p>“We will consider it,” Ratchis said, and then he turned to Martin. “What do you say?”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know. We have time before a decision absolutely needs to be made,” Martin replied. “In the meantime, I think I am going to get Richard to give me some training.”</p><p></p><p>Back inside the temple, Razzle had returned from the catacombs. He wore tall soft boots of a gray-blue color that matched his slicked hair. He had a chain shirt over a cream colored cotton shirt and a velvet sash that was maroon in color. He drew his sword and brandished it by way of greeting and put it away again faster than most could even see.</p><p></p><p>“If nothing else Richard the Red says can convince you that we are the ones to undertake this quest for the good of all, let it be only that I, the great Razzle Greyish, greatest of the Brothers Greyish shall be counted among his number,” he said to them.</p><p></p><p>As the evening wore on, Martin negotiated with Richard for some training, despite Kazrack telling the crimson watch-mage flatly that the Keeper of the Gate would not be going to the Key Room.</p><p></p><p>“I am not sure if I should be training you when I consider what it is you are carrying,” Richard the Red said ominously. “If you give in to its corruption you will be that much harder to defeat.”</p><p></p><p>“If I give to the corruption of the Book what little power I will gain in these sessions will be the least of your worries,” Martin reasoned.</p><p></p><p>Richard nodded.</p><p></p><p>Kazrack, meanwhile, made his way down to the catacombs with Dorn and Logan. The basement level itself gave way to narrow catacombs filled with niches for mummified corpses, most of which were empty. Beyond that the catacombs gave way to natural caves that plummeting beneath the ridge wall of Greenreed Valley. Down there, Logan and Dorn waited outside of small cavern, while the rune-thrower went inside to throw his stones and consult his gods.</p><p></p><p>Throwing the carved runestones upon the hard stone ground, Kazrack formed his question in his mind and moved the stones into groups based on how they fell, and then suddenly he fell backward, thrashing and foaming as all around him went dark.</p><p></p><p>Kazrack was running across ashen grass. The wind was high and howling at such a pitch that he felt deaf. He looked back and could see the temple of Bast was looming and swollen against the dark horizon created by the ridge wall. He was within Greenreed Valley, and his companions were blurred figures running beside him. The sky was covered with storm clouds and a crack of thunder drew his eyes before him once again. There atop the highest part of the ridge wall, above the area he knew was called the Amphitheatre, buildings were erupting from the earth and way up into the storm clouds. And from beyond the valley in the west a dark shadow rose and Kazrack was aware of a gathering doom that would come crashing into the valley, smashing against the walls of the buildings and he and his companions had to reach their dubious safety before the shadow arrived.</p><p></p><p>“It’s a good thing we know where to go and no one else does,” Ratchis’ blurred form said. The sense of urgency was a palpable lump in Kazrack’s throat that swelled up with each step.</p><p></p><p>“Kazrack! Kazrack! Are you okay?” Dorn was shaking the dwarf when he opened his eyes and smiled widely. “Is everything okay?”</p><p></p><p>“Everything is fine,” Kazrack said, sitting up and wiping his face and chin with his sleeve. “I have come closer to direct communion with my gods than I ever have before. We shall definitely not be going to the Key Room.”</p><p></p><p>Upstairs, Kazrack gathered his companions and relayed what he had seen. </p><p></p><p>“And how do you interpret that as not needing going to the Key Room?” Roland asked. </p><p></p><p>”We were hurrying to beat some great darkness to the place,” Kazrack said. “If we were there and waiting we would not have to have been hurrying, and the fact that I looked back and saw this place means we were hurrying <em>from</em> here, and here is where the entrance to the Key Room is.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t think that is clear,” Roland said. “Maybe what Ratchis said in the vision means that because we know where the entrance is we can get into the place that was opened up by using going to the Key Room…”</p><p></p><p>“That is not what the gods meant,” Kazrack said. </p><p></p><p>Roland shook his head.</p><p></p><p>“I think Kazrack is best suited to interpret the vision of his own gods,” Ratchis said.</p><p></p><p>“How can any mortals know what gods may or may not have meant?” Roland complained. “All they do is show us a new way of looking at things and leave the choices to us.”</p><p></p><p>“Correct, and with this vision I have been given I can see that the Key Room will delay us,” Kazrack said.</p><p></p><p>“I plan to ask my goddess on the morrow,” Roland said.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px">Balem, the 19th of Keent – 565 H.E.</span></p><p></p><p>Martin began his training with Richard the Red early in the morning, while Logan and Ratchis made some rounds of the area. Kazrack retreated into the catacombs again to pray and work on his King’s Men pieces (1), while Roland swept off the altar area and sanctified it so he might <em>commune</em> with his goddess in a place that was holy to her. He lit incense and transforming into panther-form caught some rodents on the grounds and laid them on the altar. He poured expensive wine of his own stock over them and sung softly to himself, preparing the sacrifice to pay for his <em>divination</em> casting.</p><p></p><p>“Oh great queen Bast,” Roland knelt before he altar and held his out stretched arms to the ceiling. “Please look down on me your humble servant and let me beg your wisdom. Your eyes see the smallest mouse that nibbles in the field, even as your roar can shake the foundations of Aquerra, please tell me what benefit it would be to seek the Key Room to Hurgun’s Maze? Or would it be our doom and failure?”</p><p></p><p>Roland fell prostrate and his body became rigid as he heard the purred whispered voice breathed into his ear … <em>Though it will bring you within a whisker’s breadth of failure, what can be gained there may bring you a rousing success…</em></p><p></p><p>At lunch, Roland told them of his answer, and the group immediately fell to arguing as Richard and Razzle laughed and mocked. They were gathered on the cracked floor eating some pigeons that Ratchis and Logan brought back; washing it down with wine.</p><p></p><p>“We need to go to the Key Room,” Roland said.</p><p></p><p>“Bah! The vision my gods sent me proves that we do not,” Kazrack said. “Even the answer you gained warns of the folly of it. ‘A whisker’s breadth’ is very close to failure, and thus it is likely we would fail.”</p><p></p><p>“It does not say we <em>will</em> fail,” Roland retorted. “I take it to mean we will succeed.”</p><p></p><p>“Rubbish,” Kazrack said.</p><p></p><p>“If anything the white buildings you saw rising from the earth proves that the Key Room actually does something,” Roland reasoned. “Meaning it may be necessary for us to do it and we are lucky that we are the only ones who know where the entrance is in that fortress, or whatever it is.”</p><p></p><p>Kazrack was silent for a long time.</p><p></p><p>“D’naar, what do you think?” the dwarf finally said, turning to his half-orc companion.</p><p></p><p>“I think Roland has a point about the buildings, but while it may be necessary for anyone else to get in, it may not be necessary for us, with our knowledge,” Ratchis said.</p><p></p><p>“Oh great Bast!” Roland swore. “Am I the only one who sees clearly around here? The Key Room and the beam of light compliment each other! It will make getting in easier for use while other forces seek their own entrance or to stop us from making ours!”</p><p></p><p>“I only wish you could ask your goddess again and pose a different question,” Kazrack said. “Maybe you would get a better answer with a better question. My people are well-schooled in the lore of divination, you should have consulted me.”</p><p></p><p>Roland covered his mouth with his left hand and swallowed his response. Taking a deep breath he finally responded. “It would be nice, but it is disrespectful for me to go to her again like this so soon. I am supposed to make decisions on my own.”</p><p></p><p>Kazrack’s brow furrowed and his eyebrows lowered as he studied the Bastite, unsure how to take that last comment.</p><p></p><p>The argument went on interminably. Finally, Martin went back to his studies with Richard, and Ratchis and Logan went out to do more scouting, while Dorn wandered off with Cordell to explore the catacombs some. Razzle had climbed on the roof and was practicing drawing and sheathing his sword mid-cartwheel. Roland and Kazrack were so engrossed with the debate they were oblivious to all else. It went on for hours.</p><p></p><p>“The problem with continuing this discussion is the problem of a conflict between the words of my god and the words of yours,” Roland said. “However, my emotional reaction to this…”</p><p></p><p>“Emotional? What are you, a woman?” Kazrack was genuinely shocked. “Be a man and use your reason.”</p><p></p><p>“Kazrack, if what you use is reason, then I will happily stick with my emotions,” Roland replied. The Bastite stood and went outside, wondering where Norena was, as he had not seen her all day.</p><p></p><p>“She took off in cat-form this morning to do some scouting,” Richard explained to Roland a little later when asked. “She might not be back for days.”</p><p></p><p>--------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Logan and Ratchis found themselves back near Summit, creeping in the long shadows of the afternoon from ash-covered shrub to ash-covered stone across the grazing fields for the place’s many flocks of sheep and goats. It all appeared abandoned.</p><p></p><p>Despite Ratchis’ frustrated whispered hissing, Logan crept even closer, dragging himself amid roots and mud to get right to the edge of the town, and watch from the shadow of some small houses that seemed abandoned.</p><p></p><p>Aside from some poorly equipped obvious Gothanian militia, he saw about two dozen men-at-arms wandering about. It was hard to determine exactly how many from his vantage point, as they all looked similar from that distance, but he figured it was a good guess. They wore chainmail and carried long spears. Most had heavy maces at their side. They wore road-stained doublets with an embroidered rune upon the chest he could not get a good look at. Logan also noticed the two men that seemed to be the leaders. One also carried a spear, and had a spear atop an ankh emblazoned upon his breast plate. The other also wore plate, but carried a shield on his back with the symbol of a tome emblazoned with an ankh upon it. As he made ready to creep away from there, the Herman-lander also saw a short-haired woman in bright red robes and carrying a staff.</p><p></p><p>Logan made it back to Ratchis, and night was falling as they got to the Temple of Bast once again. Logan told the others what he saw.</p><p></p><p>“We will have to be careful to avoid them when we go to meet Gunthar tomorrow,” Ratchis said. (2) “Roland, I was hoping you might come with me.”</p><p></p><p>“Do we really have to go get Gunthar?” Roland complained.</p><p></p><p>“We need his sword, if not his mouth,” Kazrack said, and Roland sighed and nodded.</p><p></p><p>The evening was passed playing King’s Men on a makeshift board, while Martin and Richard continued the training. </p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px">Anulem, the 21st of Keent – 565 H.E.</span></p><p></p><p>Early the day before, Ratchis and Roland headed out. The Bastite took panther-form and took point. The others stayed behind. Kazrack working on his King’s Men, Martin training, and Dorn and Logan exploring the catacombs along with Cordell of Thoth.</p><p></p><p>Without Kazrack to slow them down, Ratchis and Roland had made great time in getting to the meeting place, but as it was, the sun was making a slow descent as they arrived. They made camp and waited. </p><p></p><p>In the morning, there was no sign of Gunthar, so Roland of Bast cast a <em>sending</em>.</p><p></p><p>“<em>It’s Roland. Ratchis and I are at the rendezvous point waiting for you. Please briefly respond with your location and situation. Don’t waste words on insults…</em></p><p></p><p>The world seemed to go away for an instant, and Roland heard Gunthar’s voice as if from down a long narrow tunnel.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Hey ya friggin’ ponce! Nice to distract me when I am sneaking around trying to keep Debo’s trolls from following me to where you are…</em></p><p></p><p>Roland sighed. “There was a reply, but I got a vision of him getting eaten by trolls…” Roland began in his snarling, mewling roaring cat-language. Ratchis who had cast <em>Speak with Animals</em> could understand and answer back, though. Roland continued. “Okay, I am just kidding… He’s coming this way and he has trolls with him.”</p><p></p><p>“Do you have any idea where he might be?” Ratchis asked.</p><p></p><p>“No idea, why don’t you tell me, tracker?” Roland replied.</p><p></p><p>“It has been days since he left and it rained a lot. Even if I could find his trail there is no guarantee he is coming back the same way,” Ratchis said, and then he suddenly looked up, feeling like they were being watched. He was right.</p><p></p><p>Ratchis turned and saw a slight figure standing about sixty feet away under the cover a pine that was white with ash on its needles. The man stood about five foot seven inches tall and wore all green and black, and a woolen cap. He had a sword at his side and a short bow in his hands. When he saw that Ratchis noticed him, he began to slowly walk over.</p><p></p><p>“That thing yours?” the man asked, point to Roland’s panther-form as he approached. “Oh, hey! You’re that pig-f*cker that was around a few months ago, right?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes,” Ratchis replied.</p><p></p><p>“So, that thing yours?” the man asked again.</p><p></p><p>“He is a priest of Bast,” the half-orc said, wary.</p><p></p><p>“They letting panthers be priests of Bast now?” the man asked, surprised.</p><p></p><p>“No. Priests of Bast can turn into panthers,” Ratchis replied.</p><p></p><p>“What? Like a were-panther?”</p><p></p><p>“No, like a priest of Bast.”</p><p></p><p>“Never heard of that,” the man spit and shifted his weight to one hip. “Pretty dangerous in these parts, what with the fire lizardmen and the king’s goons riding around all over the place.”</p><p></p><p>Ratchis nodded.</p><p></p><p>“What’cha doin’ here, anyway?” the man asked.</p><p></p><p>“We are waiting for someone,” Ratchis said. “But we are worried that he might be waylaid by trolls. Do you know of trolls in the area?”</p><p></p><p>“Trolls?!” the man laughed. “None that I know of. Ain’t been a troll in these parts for a hunned years. So, priest of Bast, eh? I heard that old Bast place up near Summit was being used for some dark stuff and some of them dragon-hunters…” The man laughed. “…Some of them dragon-hunters rousted out the evil priest that was in there. Your kitty-cat friend here to restore it or something?”</p><p></p><p>“Most likely,” Ratchis replied.</p><p></p><p>“That where the rest of your friends are?” the man continued with his questioning.</p><p></p><p>“Who are you, again?” Ratchis asked.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, I’m Tyluk of Archet. I, uh… I’m a friend of Siram. You met him, right?” (3)</p><p></p><p>“Some of my companions did, yes…” Ratchis answered, still unsure if he should be having this conversation.</p><p></p><p>“The watch-mage?” Tyluk asked.</p><p></p><p>“Do you have any more useful information about this area?” Ratchis asked, avoiding the question.</p><p></p><p>“Uh, no…” Tyluk said. “Well, I should be going.” He looked at Roland in panther-form. “You can understand me?”</p><p></p><p>The panther’s head bobbed up and down.</p><p></p><p>“Wow…” And with the man went slinking back off into the woods. </p><p></p><p>“Can you do another sending? We should not linger here too long,” Ratchis turned to the panther.</p><p></p><p>The panther’s head shook back and forth. They would have to wait another day.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px">Ralem, the 22nd of Keent – 565 H.E.</span> (4)</p><p></p><p>Soon after praying, Roland sent another <em>sending</em> to Gunthar.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Hey buffoon, we need to return to the temple of Bast near Summit. Good luck with the trolls! Meet us at the temple. Need help? Tell me where?</em>”</p><p></p><p>The answer came like a wind through a reed.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Hey Cheese-puss, Debo double-crossed me. Still over a day away. I’ll try to meet you at the temple.</em>”</p><p></p><p>Roland relayed this to Ratchis and they made their way north once again to return to the temple.</p><p></p><p>-------------------------</p><p></p><p>As Ratchis and Roland made the long hike back and the sun reached its apex, a bored Logan found himself on the roof of the temple of Bast, just keeping a look out, and occasionally spying on Martin and Richard through the skylight as they studied in the main chamber. But then he thought he heard a whinny brought to his ear on the wind. He stood and shielded his eyes, and could see horses appearing on the ridge from the south. There were armored men making their way towards the temple. He saw other men on foot coming up the ridge south of where the party had a few days before.</p><p></p><p>Logan scrambled over to the skylight.</p><p></p><p>“Hsst! Ra-worshippers! Soldiers. Headed this way!” he hissed down to those below.</p><p></p><p>“Cordell is below!” Razzle said, moving to the vestry where the stairs to the lower levels were. “I will go get him.”</p><p></p><p>“I wonder who it is? I guess I’ll find out,” said Richard, and promptly faded away.</p><p></p><p>Frantic, Martin ran for the vestry, but then doubled back to scoop up his spellbooks and scrolls and bring them with him. </p><p></p><p>“Louis! Take the left flank,” an authoritative voice barked outside, as the sound of armored men enveloped the area. “Warren! Take the right! Suel, up the middle!”</p><p></p><p>After a moment, Logan heard the soldiers at the temple door below him. He was laying flat on the roof, nearly holding his breath.</p><p></p><p>“The door is secured, sir,” said a soldier.</p><p></p><p>“Hello? Hello?” the leader’s voice called through the door. “In the name of the Kingdom of Gothanius and the Company of the Impervious Ward, show yourselves!”</p><p></p><p>Thoom! Thoom! Thoom! The hammering of the mailed fist against the temple door echoed in the main chamber, and frightened that the soldiers would come in, Martin the Green finally hurried down the stairs of the vestry to the lower level. A brick-walled hallway led into series of smaller chambers which included a kitchen, a larder and two storage rooms. Two halls reached back to where the catacombs and then more natural tunnels wound out within and beneath the ridge wall.</p><p></p><p>Unsure of which way to go, Martin guessed to the left and was happy to see Dorn coming back up the hall in his direction, oblivious to what was going on above.</p><p></p><p>“Go back! Take me to Kazrack!” Martin said to the cohort. “The mercenaries are here. They’ll enter the temple at any moment if they haven’t already!”</p><p></p><p>Shocked, Dorn led Martin back down the short hall through a thick wooden door past the niches for the dead on either side and then through a narrow archway to the natural tunnels. It took a good ten minutes for the two of them to make to the cavern where the dwarf was still diligently carving his small pieces of stone.</p><p></p><p>“Can you use your invisibility to sneak past them?” Kazrack asked when Martin explained the situation. They began to march back towards the catacomb doors to listen. “We need to reach D’nar and Roland.”</p><p></p><p>“They have a wizard with them,” Martin replied, burying his face in his right hand. “There is no guarantee that I can slip by them unseen or unnoticed. If they are as trained to deal with wizards as Finn said they claim to be, they will be prepared for just such a scenario.”</p><p></p><p>“Then we fight,” Kazrack replied. “Better to fight than to be taken prisoner.”</p><p></p><p>“Without Ratchis and Roland or Gunthar or Logan here? Kazrack, you will die if we go up there and fight them on our own.”</p><p></p><p>“Me, but not you?” Kazrack asked.</p><p></p><p>“They have orders to take me alive,” Martin said, quietly.</p><p></p><p>“Then as I keep them busy you can flee invisibly and try to find Ratchis and Roland,” Kazrack suggested.</p><p></p><p>“What about Logan?” Dorn asked.</p><p></p><p>“Logan can take care of himself,” Kazrack replied. “Either he has been killed or captured already, or he has gotten away. Let’s hope he can get to D’nar before he stumbles back into a trap. But what about Richard and his companions?”</p><p></p><p>Martin explained that Richard had disappeared and that Razzle had come down here to find Cordell.</p><p></p><p>“They must have taken the other hallway to the other set of catacombs,” Dorn said. “I have been exploring this side mostly, but Cordell spends time in other. There are fewer catacombs on that side, but some very deep shafts.”</p><p></p><p>“Do they connect?” Kazrack asked.</p><p></p><p>“They may, but Cordell seemed to think there might be a way to get from one set of catacombs to the other in a very deep place,” Dorn said.</p><p></p><p>“You know, Norena has been gone for a day, perhaps she went and alerted this soldiers to your presence here, Martin,” Kazrack said.</p><p></p><p>“Unlikely,” Martin replied. “What would that get her?”</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps she and Richard thought that if these mercenaries arrived we would be forced to go into the Key Room to escape?” Kazrack speculated.</p><p></p><p>Martin shook his head. “We don’t even know where the portal is.”</p><p></p><p>“I do,” replied Dorn. “Cordell showed me the hatch that goes down to it, but he warned me that it was warded with a spell.”</p><p></p><p>“If the soldiers have not made it to the larder when we get up there we will go to the other hall and find Cordell and Razzle,” Martin said. “As a priest of Thoth, perhaps Cordell can help negotiate a truce of some kind.”</p><p></p><p>“Or he may aid the paladin of his god,” Kazrack said.</p><p></p><p>“Again, I don’t see that working in his interest in terms of his goals with Richard,” Martin said. “In either case, we have to risk it.”</p><p></p><p>----------------------------------</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Logan was still on the temple roof. He heard the soldiers burst through the temple doors yelling to each other that the main chamber was clear. And he could hear others making a perimeter about the unkempt temple grounds as well.</p><p></p><p>“They’ve escaped to the lower levels, sir,” Logan heard a voice report through the broken skylight. The commander gave orders coolly, sending a unit to search below, while another was sent outside to do a quick search of the perimeter.</p><p></p><p>The was the sound of something cutting through the air, and suddenly there was a crimson figure rising over of the temple from beneath the ridge. It was a woman in red robes with close-trimmed curly red hair. She held a staff in one hand.</p><p></p><p>”There is someone on the roof!” she cried, looking down and seeing Logan crouched there. “Stand down and prepare to be questioned!” </p><p></p><p>Logan did not comply. He ran for the far edge of the roof and dove off, twisting and flipping in the air to land on his feet and hustle into the nettle-choked woods that surrounded the temple grounds to the west and north. </p><p></p><p>“There is one out here! There is one out here!” He heard soldiers’ voices calling to each other, and the zip of crossbow bolts cutting past him and biting into the earth. As Logan crouched down and dove into the thick trees he heard the flying mage hiss arcane words and he felt the bite of arrows of glowing light in his back. A javelin rattled against a branch above his head, but soon he was out of their view.</p><p></p><p>“Regroup! Regroup!” Logan heard another voice commanding. “Hold the perimeter. He can’t go far if his companions are still inside. He will have to come back.”</p><p></p><p>Logan remained hidden beneath a bush a few hundred yards away from the temple and cursed. </p><p></p><p>--------------------------------</p><p></p><p>Martin sent his <em>arcane eye</em> out into the kitchen and larder, and spied the chain-garbed soldiers coming into the room and spreading out at the command of one of the lieutenants.</p><p></p><p>“We need to retreat!” Martin hissed to Kazrack and Dorn, when he saw three soldiers coming down the hall to the catacombs. The three of them hurried back down as quickly and quietly as they could.</p><p></p><p>“We need to find the Black Door and go to this Key Room,” Martin said. “This may be out only opportunity.”</p><p></p><p>“I still think we can make it out,” said Kazrack.</p><p></p><p>“We can’t risk it,” Martin said. “Dorn, show us where the hatch is.”</p><p></p><p>Down into the depths of the earth they marched. Martin the Green invoked the <em>rune of light</em> upon the medallion he wore about his neck to light their way. Dorn was in the lead, taking them down narrow winding steps of random lengths and heights, and through several dirt tunnels, past many more caverns, to a narrow place where a metal hatch capped a hole in black volcanic rock.</p><p></p><p>“There is a <em>glyph of warding</em> on that hatch,” Martin said, scanning it with a <em>detect magic</em> spell.</p><p></p><p>Kazrack Delver grabbed the bag of runestones about his neck and called to Lehrothronar to undo the protective magic, and the glyph faded.</p><p></p><p>“I will go first,” the dwarf said, and opening the hatched he made his way down the narrow shaft by means of a metal ladder.</p><p></p><p><strong>End of Session #79</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>------------------------------------</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>(1) Kazrack has been carving stone King’s Men pieces in his free time throughout most of the campaign.</p><p></p><p>(2) Gunthar said he would meet the rest of the party back in the determined spot in four days time in Session #77</p><p></p><p>(3) See Session #29</p><p></p><p>(4) Kazrack’s birthday. This marks one year in-game time since the campaign began.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 2820006, member: 11"] [b] Session #79 (complete)[/b] “So we have a battle-mage, a paladin of Thoth and a small army,” Martin the Green ticked off on his fingers. The Keepers of the Gate had invited the Shepherds to come outside and discuss the situation out of the earshot of Richard the Red’s companions. Finn Fisher had gone on to describe as best he could the company of Neergaardian mercenaries set on capturing Martin. “They call themselves ‘the Company of the Impervious Ward’,” Finn said. “Thirty is not a small army,” Logan said. “It is around here,” Martin quipped. “It is important for you to know that Richard the Red is not to be trusted under any circumstances,” Kazrack told Finn and his friends. “But why not? He has been helping to protect the town from the fire newts,” Finn said, growing annoyed again. “I guess you don’t trust us either because I get the feeling that you have been keeping information from us we might have needed to protect people.” “It is just that Richard the Red is willing to go to lengths that most of us would balk at because we have a conscience,” Ratchis said. “Including using charm magic, and he is seeking a place where great power might be for the taking which are trying to keep anyone from getting their hands on, but mostly the demon-gnomes.” Logan noted that Josef and Carlos shared a quick nervous glance at that. “How has the militia and townspeople reacted to Richard being around?” Roland asked. “Uh, well, he asked us to keep his involvement secret,” Finn said. “He said Martin did such a good job of botching his own reputation that it might not be good for people to know a second representative of the Academy of Wizardry was around.” Roland could not hold back his laugh. “What?” Finn asked. ”He [I]is[/I] clever,” Roland replied. “We had better get back to town before anyone notices how long we’ve been gone,” Finn said. “But we can get away again later; do you need anything from town?” “More wine,” Roland said. “And a wheel of cheese and some bread,” Logan added. Finn nodded. “I’ll try.” “Remember, we are not here,” Ratchis said to the Shepherds. “And everything we told you was in confidence.” “Don’t worry, you can count us,” Finn said, and the other two nodded. As they walked away Ratchis cast [I]detect charm[/I] and saw no aura on their allies. “So we are not going to the Key Room, right?” Ratchis asked the others. “As far as I could tell Richard was telling the truth,” Roland said. “Well, Richard may be telling the truth but still leading us astray,” Kazrack said. “I am against going to this demi-plane place, but I will cast the stones tonight and see what the gods have to say, but if it were up to me I would let Richard’s companions go to this Key Room. If we tell them we are not going and if they do not go themselves, then we know that it was not as important as he made it seem.” “So, we aren’t going unless Kazrack’s gods are very clear in their indication, right?” Ratchis re-iterated. “I can [I]commune[/I] with my goddess as well, but it will have to wait for tomorrow as I do not have the spell prepared,” Roland said. “And even if we don’t seek out this Key Room, we should get these companions of Richard’s to come with us,” Logan said. “You all keep talking about how the Maze is near-certain death, so why not bring some more warm bodies and even up the odds some?” “We will consider it,” Ratchis said, and then he turned to Martin. “What do you say?” “I don’t know. We have time before a decision absolutely needs to be made,” Martin replied. “In the meantime, I think I am going to get Richard to give me some training.” Back inside the temple, Razzle had returned from the catacombs. He wore tall soft boots of a gray-blue color that matched his slicked hair. He had a chain shirt over a cream colored cotton shirt and a velvet sash that was maroon in color. He drew his sword and brandished it by way of greeting and put it away again faster than most could even see. “If nothing else Richard the Red says can convince you that we are the ones to undertake this quest for the good of all, let it be only that I, the great Razzle Greyish, greatest of the Brothers Greyish shall be counted among his number,” he said to them. As the evening wore on, Martin negotiated with Richard for some training, despite Kazrack telling the crimson watch-mage flatly that the Keeper of the Gate would not be going to the Key Room. “I am not sure if I should be training you when I consider what it is you are carrying,” Richard the Red said ominously. “If you give in to its corruption you will be that much harder to defeat.” “If I give to the corruption of the Book what little power I will gain in these sessions will be the least of your worries,” Martin reasoned. Richard nodded. Kazrack, meanwhile, made his way down to the catacombs with Dorn and Logan. The basement level itself gave way to narrow catacombs filled with niches for mummified corpses, most of which were empty. Beyond that the catacombs gave way to natural caves that plummeting beneath the ridge wall of Greenreed Valley. Down there, Logan and Dorn waited outside of small cavern, while the rune-thrower went inside to throw his stones and consult his gods. Throwing the carved runestones upon the hard stone ground, Kazrack formed his question in his mind and moved the stones into groups based on how they fell, and then suddenly he fell backward, thrashing and foaming as all around him went dark. Kazrack was running across ashen grass. The wind was high and howling at such a pitch that he felt deaf. He looked back and could see the temple of Bast was looming and swollen against the dark horizon created by the ridge wall. He was within Greenreed Valley, and his companions were blurred figures running beside him. The sky was covered with storm clouds and a crack of thunder drew his eyes before him once again. There atop the highest part of the ridge wall, above the area he knew was called the Amphitheatre, buildings were erupting from the earth and way up into the storm clouds. And from beyond the valley in the west a dark shadow rose and Kazrack was aware of a gathering doom that would come crashing into the valley, smashing against the walls of the buildings and he and his companions had to reach their dubious safety before the shadow arrived. “It’s a good thing we know where to go and no one else does,” Ratchis’ blurred form said. The sense of urgency was a palpable lump in Kazrack’s throat that swelled up with each step. “Kazrack! Kazrack! Are you okay?” Dorn was shaking the dwarf when he opened his eyes and smiled widely. “Is everything okay?” “Everything is fine,” Kazrack said, sitting up and wiping his face and chin with his sleeve. “I have come closer to direct communion with my gods than I ever have before. We shall definitely not be going to the Key Room.” Upstairs, Kazrack gathered his companions and relayed what he had seen. “And how do you interpret that as not needing going to the Key Room?” Roland asked. ”We were hurrying to beat some great darkness to the place,” Kazrack said. “If we were there and waiting we would not have to have been hurrying, and the fact that I looked back and saw this place means we were hurrying [I]from[/I] here, and here is where the entrance to the Key Room is.” “I don’t think that is clear,” Roland said. “Maybe what Ratchis said in the vision means that because we know where the entrance is we can get into the place that was opened up by using going to the Key Room…” “That is not what the gods meant,” Kazrack said. Roland shook his head. “I think Kazrack is best suited to interpret the vision of his own gods,” Ratchis said. “How can any mortals know what gods may or may not have meant?” Roland complained. “All they do is show us a new way of looking at things and leave the choices to us.” “Correct, and with this vision I have been given I can see that the Key Room will delay us,” Kazrack said. “I plan to ask my goddess on the morrow,” Roland said. [size=6]Balem, the 19th of Keent – 565 H.E.[/size] Martin began his training with Richard the Red early in the morning, while Logan and Ratchis made some rounds of the area. Kazrack retreated into the catacombs again to pray and work on his King’s Men pieces (1), while Roland swept off the altar area and sanctified it so he might [I]commune[/I] with his goddess in a place that was holy to her. He lit incense and transforming into panther-form caught some rodents on the grounds and laid them on the altar. He poured expensive wine of his own stock over them and sung softly to himself, preparing the sacrifice to pay for his [I]divination[/I] casting. “Oh great queen Bast,” Roland knelt before he altar and held his out stretched arms to the ceiling. “Please look down on me your humble servant and let me beg your wisdom. Your eyes see the smallest mouse that nibbles in the field, even as your roar can shake the foundations of Aquerra, please tell me what benefit it would be to seek the Key Room to Hurgun’s Maze? Or would it be our doom and failure?” Roland fell prostrate and his body became rigid as he heard the purred whispered voice breathed into his ear … [I]Though it will bring you within a whisker’s breadth of failure, what can be gained there may bring you a rousing success…[/I] At lunch, Roland told them of his answer, and the group immediately fell to arguing as Richard and Razzle laughed and mocked. They were gathered on the cracked floor eating some pigeons that Ratchis and Logan brought back; washing it down with wine. “We need to go to the Key Room,” Roland said. “Bah! The vision my gods sent me proves that we do not,” Kazrack said. “Even the answer you gained warns of the folly of it. ‘A whisker’s breadth’ is very close to failure, and thus it is likely we would fail.” “It does not say we [I]will[/I] fail,” Roland retorted. “I take it to mean we will succeed.” “Rubbish,” Kazrack said. “If anything the white buildings you saw rising from the earth proves that the Key Room actually does something,” Roland reasoned. “Meaning it may be necessary for us to do it and we are lucky that we are the only ones who know where the entrance is in that fortress, or whatever it is.” Kazrack was silent for a long time. “D’naar, what do you think?” the dwarf finally said, turning to his half-orc companion. “I think Roland has a point about the buildings, but while it may be necessary for anyone else to get in, it may not be necessary for us, with our knowledge,” Ratchis said. “Oh great Bast!” Roland swore. “Am I the only one who sees clearly around here? The Key Room and the beam of light compliment each other! It will make getting in easier for use while other forces seek their own entrance or to stop us from making ours!” “I only wish you could ask your goddess again and pose a different question,” Kazrack said. “Maybe you would get a better answer with a better question. My people are well-schooled in the lore of divination, you should have consulted me.” Roland covered his mouth with his left hand and swallowed his response. Taking a deep breath he finally responded. “It would be nice, but it is disrespectful for me to go to her again like this so soon. I am supposed to make decisions on my own.” Kazrack’s brow furrowed and his eyebrows lowered as he studied the Bastite, unsure how to take that last comment. The argument went on interminably. Finally, Martin went back to his studies with Richard, and Ratchis and Logan went out to do more scouting, while Dorn wandered off with Cordell to explore the catacombs some. Razzle had climbed on the roof and was practicing drawing and sheathing his sword mid-cartwheel. Roland and Kazrack were so engrossed with the debate they were oblivious to all else. It went on for hours. “The problem with continuing this discussion is the problem of a conflict between the words of my god and the words of yours,” Roland said. “However, my emotional reaction to this…” “Emotional? What are you, a woman?” Kazrack was genuinely shocked. “Be a man and use your reason.” “Kazrack, if what you use is reason, then I will happily stick with my emotions,” Roland replied. The Bastite stood and went outside, wondering where Norena was, as he had not seen her all day. “She took off in cat-form this morning to do some scouting,” Richard explained to Roland a little later when asked. “She might not be back for days.” -------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, Logan and Ratchis found themselves back near Summit, creeping in the long shadows of the afternoon from ash-covered shrub to ash-covered stone across the grazing fields for the place’s many flocks of sheep and goats. It all appeared abandoned. Despite Ratchis’ frustrated whispered hissing, Logan crept even closer, dragging himself amid roots and mud to get right to the edge of the town, and watch from the shadow of some small houses that seemed abandoned. Aside from some poorly equipped obvious Gothanian militia, he saw about two dozen men-at-arms wandering about. It was hard to determine exactly how many from his vantage point, as they all looked similar from that distance, but he figured it was a good guess. They wore chainmail and carried long spears. Most had heavy maces at their side. They wore road-stained doublets with an embroidered rune upon the chest he could not get a good look at. Logan also noticed the two men that seemed to be the leaders. One also carried a spear, and had a spear atop an ankh emblazoned upon his breast plate. The other also wore plate, but carried a shield on his back with the symbol of a tome emblazoned with an ankh upon it. As he made ready to creep away from there, the Herman-lander also saw a short-haired woman in bright red robes and carrying a staff. Logan made it back to Ratchis, and night was falling as they got to the Temple of Bast once again. Logan told the others what he saw. “We will have to be careful to avoid them when we go to meet Gunthar tomorrow,” Ratchis said. (2) “Roland, I was hoping you might come with me.” “Do we really have to go get Gunthar?” Roland complained. “We need his sword, if not his mouth,” Kazrack said, and Roland sighed and nodded. The evening was passed playing King’s Men on a makeshift board, while Martin and Richard continued the training. [size=6]Anulem, the 21st of Keent – 565 H.E.[/size] Early the day before, Ratchis and Roland headed out. The Bastite took panther-form and took point. The others stayed behind. Kazrack working on his King’s Men, Martin training, and Dorn and Logan exploring the catacombs along with Cordell of Thoth. Without Kazrack to slow them down, Ratchis and Roland had made great time in getting to the meeting place, but as it was, the sun was making a slow descent as they arrived. They made camp and waited. In the morning, there was no sign of Gunthar, so Roland of Bast cast a [I]sending[/I]. “[I]It’s Roland. Ratchis and I are at the rendezvous point waiting for you. Please briefly respond with your location and situation. Don’t waste words on insults…[/I] The world seemed to go away for an instant, and Roland heard Gunthar’s voice as if from down a long narrow tunnel. “[I]Hey ya friggin’ ponce! Nice to distract me when I am sneaking around trying to keep Debo’s trolls from following me to where you are…[/I] Roland sighed. “There was a reply, but I got a vision of him getting eaten by trolls…” Roland began in his snarling, mewling roaring cat-language. Ratchis who had cast [I]Speak with Animals[/I] could understand and answer back, though. Roland continued. “Okay, I am just kidding… He’s coming this way and he has trolls with him.” “Do you have any idea where he might be?” Ratchis asked. “No idea, why don’t you tell me, tracker?” Roland replied. “It has been days since he left and it rained a lot. Even if I could find his trail there is no guarantee he is coming back the same way,” Ratchis said, and then he suddenly looked up, feeling like they were being watched. He was right. Ratchis turned and saw a slight figure standing about sixty feet away under the cover a pine that was white with ash on its needles. The man stood about five foot seven inches tall and wore all green and black, and a woolen cap. He had a sword at his side and a short bow in his hands. When he saw that Ratchis noticed him, he began to slowly walk over. “That thing yours?” the man asked, point to Roland’s panther-form as he approached. “Oh, hey! You’re that pig-f*cker that was around a few months ago, right?” “Yes,” Ratchis replied. “So, that thing yours?” the man asked again. “He is a priest of Bast,” the half-orc said, wary. “They letting panthers be priests of Bast now?” the man asked, surprised. “No. Priests of Bast can turn into panthers,” Ratchis replied. “What? Like a were-panther?” “No, like a priest of Bast.” “Never heard of that,” the man spit and shifted his weight to one hip. “Pretty dangerous in these parts, what with the fire lizardmen and the king’s goons riding around all over the place.” Ratchis nodded. “What’cha doin’ here, anyway?” the man asked. “We are waiting for someone,” Ratchis said. “But we are worried that he might be waylaid by trolls. Do you know of trolls in the area?” “Trolls?!” the man laughed. “None that I know of. Ain’t been a troll in these parts for a hunned years. So, priest of Bast, eh? I heard that old Bast place up near Summit was being used for some dark stuff and some of them dragon-hunters…” The man laughed. “…Some of them dragon-hunters rousted out the evil priest that was in there. Your kitty-cat friend here to restore it or something?” “Most likely,” Ratchis replied. “That where the rest of your friends are?” the man continued with his questioning. “Who are you, again?” Ratchis asked. “Oh, I’m Tyluk of Archet. I, uh… I’m a friend of Siram. You met him, right?” (3) “Some of my companions did, yes…” Ratchis answered, still unsure if he should be having this conversation. “The watch-mage?” Tyluk asked. “Do you have any more useful information about this area?” Ratchis asked, avoiding the question. “Uh, no…” Tyluk said. “Well, I should be going.” He looked at Roland in panther-form. “You can understand me?” The panther’s head bobbed up and down. “Wow…” And with the man went slinking back off into the woods. “Can you do another sending? We should not linger here too long,” Ratchis turned to the panther. The panther’s head shook back and forth. They would have to wait another day. [size=6]Ralem, the 22nd of Keent – 565 H.E.[/size] (4) Soon after praying, Roland sent another [I]sending[/I] to Gunthar. “[I]Hey buffoon, we need to return to the temple of Bast near Summit. Good luck with the trolls! Meet us at the temple. Need help? Tell me where?[/I]” The answer came like a wind through a reed. “[I]Hey Cheese-puss, Debo double-crossed me. Still over a day away. I’ll try to meet you at the temple.[/I]” Roland relayed this to Ratchis and they made their way north once again to return to the temple. ------------------------- As Ratchis and Roland made the long hike back and the sun reached its apex, a bored Logan found himself on the roof of the temple of Bast, just keeping a look out, and occasionally spying on Martin and Richard through the skylight as they studied in the main chamber. But then he thought he heard a whinny brought to his ear on the wind. He stood and shielded his eyes, and could see horses appearing on the ridge from the south. There were armored men making their way towards the temple. He saw other men on foot coming up the ridge south of where the party had a few days before. Logan scrambled over to the skylight. “Hsst! Ra-worshippers! Soldiers. Headed this way!” he hissed down to those below. “Cordell is below!” Razzle said, moving to the vestry where the stairs to the lower levels were. “I will go get him.” “I wonder who it is? I guess I’ll find out,” said Richard, and promptly faded away. Frantic, Martin ran for the vestry, but then doubled back to scoop up his spellbooks and scrolls and bring them with him. “Louis! Take the left flank,” an authoritative voice barked outside, as the sound of armored men enveloped the area. “Warren! Take the right! Suel, up the middle!” After a moment, Logan heard the soldiers at the temple door below him. He was laying flat on the roof, nearly holding his breath. “The door is secured, sir,” said a soldier. “Hello? Hello?” the leader’s voice called through the door. “In the name of the Kingdom of Gothanius and the Company of the Impervious Ward, show yourselves!” Thoom! Thoom! Thoom! The hammering of the mailed fist against the temple door echoed in the main chamber, and frightened that the soldiers would come in, Martin the Green finally hurried down the stairs of the vestry to the lower level. A brick-walled hallway led into series of smaller chambers which included a kitchen, a larder and two storage rooms. Two halls reached back to where the catacombs and then more natural tunnels wound out within and beneath the ridge wall. Unsure of which way to go, Martin guessed to the left and was happy to see Dorn coming back up the hall in his direction, oblivious to what was going on above. “Go back! Take me to Kazrack!” Martin said to the cohort. “The mercenaries are here. They’ll enter the temple at any moment if they haven’t already!” Shocked, Dorn led Martin back down the short hall through a thick wooden door past the niches for the dead on either side and then through a narrow archway to the natural tunnels. It took a good ten minutes for the two of them to make to the cavern where the dwarf was still diligently carving his small pieces of stone. “Can you use your invisibility to sneak past them?” Kazrack asked when Martin explained the situation. They began to march back towards the catacomb doors to listen. “We need to reach D’nar and Roland.” “They have a wizard with them,” Martin replied, burying his face in his right hand. “There is no guarantee that I can slip by them unseen or unnoticed. If they are as trained to deal with wizards as Finn said they claim to be, they will be prepared for just such a scenario.” “Then we fight,” Kazrack replied. “Better to fight than to be taken prisoner.” “Without Ratchis and Roland or Gunthar or Logan here? Kazrack, you will die if we go up there and fight them on our own.” “Me, but not you?” Kazrack asked. “They have orders to take me alive,” Martin said, quietly. “Then as I keep them busy you can flee invisibly and try to find Ratchis and Roland,” Kazrack suggested. “What about Logan?” Dorn asked. “Logan can take care of himself,” Kazrack replied. “Either he has been killed or captured already, or he has gotten away. Let’s hope he can get to D’nar before he stumbles back into a trap. But what about Richard and his companions?” Martin explained that Richard had disappeared and that Razzle had come down here to find Cordell. “They must have taken the other hallway to the other set of catacombs,” Dorn said. “I have been exploring this side mostly, but Cordell spends time in other. There are fewer catacombs on that side, but some very deep shafts.” “Do they connect?” Kazrack asked. “They may, but Cordell seemed to think there might be a way to get from one set of catacombs to the other in a very deep place,” Dorn said. “You know, Norena has been gone for a day, perhaps she went and alerted this soldiers to your presence here, Martin,” Kazrack said. “Unlikely,” Martin replied. “What would that get her?” “Perhaps she and Richard thought that if these mercenaries arrived we would be forced to go into the Key Room to escape?” Kazrack speculated. Martin shook his head. “We don’t even know where the portal is.” “I do,” replied Dorn. “Cordell showed me the hatch that goes down to it, but he warned me that it was warded with a spell.” “If the soldiers have not made it to the larder when we get up there we will go to the other hall and find Cordell and Razzle,” Martin said. “As a priest of Thoth, perhaps Cordell can help negotiate a truce of some kind.” “Or he may aid the paladin of his god,” Kazrack said. “Again, I don’t see that working in his interest in terms of his goals with Richard,” Martin said. “In either case, we have to risk it.” ---------------------------------- Meanwhile, Logan was still on the temple roof. He heard the soldiers burst through the temple doors yelling to each other that the main chamber was clear. And he could hear others making a perimeter about the unkempt temple grounds as well. “They’ve escaped to the lower levels, sir,” Logan heard a voice report through the broken skylight. The commander gave orders coolly, sending a unit to search below, while another was sent outside to do a quick search of the perimeter. The was the sound of something cutting through the air, and suddenly there was a crimson figure rising over of the temple from beneath the ridge. It was a woman in red robes with close-trimmed curly red hair. She held a staff in one hand. ”There is someone on the roof!” she cried, looking down and seeing Logan crouched there. “Stand down and prepare to be questioned!” Logan did not comply. He ran for the far edge of the roof and dove off, twisting and flipping in the air to land on his feet and hustle into the nettle-choked woods that surrounded the temple grounds to the west and north. “There is one out here! There is one out here!” He heard soldiers’ voices calling to each other, and the zip of crossbow bolts cutting past him and biting into the earth. As Logan crouched down and dove into the thick trees he heard the flying mage hiss arcane words and he felt the bite of arrows of glowing light in his back. A javelin rattled against a branch above his head, but soon he was out of their view. “Regroup! Regroup!” Logan heard another voice commanding. “Hold the perimeter. He can’t go far if his companions are still inside. He will have to come back.” Logan remained hidden beneath a bush a few hundred yards away from the temple and cursed. -------------------------------- Martin sent his [I]arcane eye[/I] out into the kitchen and larder, and spied the chain-garbed soldiers coming into the room and spreading out at the command of one of the lieutenants. “We need to retreat!” Martin hissed to Kazrack and Dorn, when he saw three soldiers coming down the hall to the catacombs. The three of them hurried back down as quickly and quietly as they could. “We need to find the Black Door and go to this Key Room,” Martin said. “This may be out only opportunity.” “I still think we can make it out,” said Kazrack. “We can’t risk it,” Martin said. “Dorn, show us where the hatch is.” Down into the depths of the earth they marched. Martin the Green invoked the [I]rune of light[/I] upon the medallion he wore about his neck to light their way. Dorn was in the lead, taking them down narrow winding steps of random lengths and heights, and through several dirt tunnels, past many more caverns, to a narrow place where a metal hatch capped a hole in black volcanic rock. “There is a [I]glyph of warding[/I] on that hatch,” Martin said, scanning it with a [I]detect magic[/I] spell. Kazrack Delver grabbed the bag of runestones about his neck and called to Lehrothronar to undo the protective magic, and the glyph faded. “I will go first,” the dwarf said, and opening the hatched he made his way down the narrow shaft by means of a metal ladder. [b]End of Session #79[/b] ------------------------------------ [b]Notes:[/b] (1) Kazrack has been carving stone King’s Men pieces in his free time throughout most of the campaign. (2) Gunthar said he would meet the rest of the party back in the determined spot in four days time in Session #77 (3) See Session #29 (4) Kazrack’s birthday. This marks one year in-game time since the campaign began. [/QUOTE]
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"Out of the Frying Pan"- Book IV - Into the Fire [STORY HOUR COMPLETED - 12/25/06]
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