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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dinkeldog" data-source="post: 349102" data-attributes="member: 195">From the Journal of Nikolai Davros…We mopped up the remaining Yuan Ti and delved deeply into their lair.  We located the gate out, as well as a box which we suspect holds the key to the gate.  After discussions, we decided that it was vital to destroy Sterling Dale.  I didn't ask  Kellen of his prior pledges to leave him alone; I feel no compunction to spare Dale, especially after his vampire spawn attacked us in the burial mound.We couldn't use magic to find Dale, but we could use it to find his Wyvern. We did so, and started the ascent to the Wasp Nest where he had secreted himself.  I flew Jaag up, while Rod climbed invisibly.  The Wyvern attacked us in mid-flight, and poisoned Jaag.  Rod drove the thing off with his magic, and then blew it out of the sky.We advanced into the nest, finally fighting Dale and several spawn in a large chamber filled with wasps and their homes.  A missed the vampire with a Searing Light, but caught him with the second.  We turned his spawn, and forced him to take mist form.His resting place is in this nest somewhere, and I have a plan to find it.Sir Kellan’s DiaryThe yuan-ti stronghold lay before us, and somewhere within lay the gate we had been sent to secure. After searching the area with no further resistance, we discovered it: a circular object on a stage-like platform, the outside covered in symbols and constellations we did not recognize. A podium at the base of the stage held a hexagonal slot about 3 inches deep - obviously meant for a key of some sort. After resting the night, we investigated the area further, and discovered a secret hiding spot that held a box and a book - each radiating magic.After discussing the situation, we determined that rather than continue spending time examining the gate, we should seek out Stirling Dale – the only force left in he valley that could pose a threat to us and the gate. After discussing various magical solutions, I suggested trying to locate the wyvern-like creature that served as Dale's mount; this led us to travel across the valley, past the lake (where the Lady was nowhere to be found), past the old bugbear fortress, and to the far cliff wall - where the nest was to be found, some 250 feet above our heads.Nik cast his fly spell to ferry Jaag, Rod, and me up to the nest. Jaag was first, and so was the first to be attacked; about 150 feet up, the wyvern attacked from the air. While it certainly posed a threat, a combination of Rod's fireball and magic missiles, along with a few arrows and crossbow bolts, felled the creature, and caused it to crash into the lake. Soon, we were all the cave mouth that served as a staging area to enter the nest.From the start, we were attacked by the nasty beasts; one of Jorie's spells caused the vermin to be replled from him, and that gave us some room to fight them. We advanced to find the beginning of the nest itself – climbing it would prove to be nearly impossible in full armor, and it fell to Nik to ferry Jagg to the interior, while Rod teleported me into the thick of the fray, where the wasps were joined by Dale himself.Dale seemed to be surprised that we were coming for him, or perhaps it was his bravado that made him try to fool us into thinking he was not a threat. At any rate, Dale's prowess as a swordsman was quickly proven to be well-founded; with his first blow, Dale sundered Jaag's magical axe, and the brave dwarf fell after several quick blows. Jorie summoned and magically enhanced several leopards to deal with the wasps, letting us concentrate on the vampire who wreaked terrible wounds on all of us, draining energy from all but Rod. Just as victory semed to be his, and he began to gloat, I raised my blade and shouted, "I shall die as a true Paladin of Heironeous!" Whith what would certainly be my last swing, I connected, and brought the vampire so close to death that he needed to turn gaseous, and flee.Jorie's JournalI knew this final showdown with Stirling Dale was going to be too dangerous, so Spot and Polly stayed safely away.  Gizmo should be safe enough, though, and I was planning on Animal Growth'ing him in addition.We knew Dale would be in a giant wasp nest, so I memorized repel vermin to help keep them under control.  Then we set off in the direction of Dale's mount--a wyvern--using the result of my circle dance.  Fortunately, the wyvern was relatively close to his master.  Unfortunately, when we got to the cliff face, Nik decided to take Jaag up to the opening to the nest.  Normally, I'd agree that Jaag was the best choice to take the brunt of the initial assault.  This time, though, I was prepared.  Repel vermin would keep the bad things at bay, the others could come in as needed, I had a lesser restoration memorized and another in an infusion, and neutralize poison as well.  If I needed it, I could wildshape into a bear, but nothing should be able to make it past the barrier.Before I knew what was happening, though, Jaag was up on the ledge.  Then the wyvern struck, and the aerial battle involving everyone else (Gizmo and I just watched from the sidelines, lacking any good ranged firepower).  Eventually the wyvern retreated, but the wasps had discovered Jaag and before Nik could get me up there, Jaag had been stung a couple times, including a couple times by the wyvern.  With his dwarven consititution, he seemed to be only minimally affected.  Lesser restoration  helped ease that damage.Getting everyone else up and clearing out the rest of the giant wasps didn't take too long.  I changed into polar bear form, since the uneven floor looked to be more easily traveled in that form, and I might need to be able to strike some blow.  I had powered Gizmo up with a greater magic fang, so he was practically a force of nature on his own.  Rod expended a great amount of his magical power on the wyvern, so he created a flaming sphere and mostly stayed out of the way, as did I.Coming around out of the first chamber of the nest into the next larger chamber (as well as onto much more difficult terrain as the honeycomb was more developed here), we were ambushed by a large amount of wasps and several vampire spawn in addition to Stirling himself.  'Why?' he asked us, as if he didn't recall the vampire spawn he'd set on us several times in the recent past.Standing aside and reaching into my spell component pouch which Gizmo had carried for me, I pulled what I needed to cast a summoning spell and call on several leopards for aid.  The leopards appeared while Gizmo moved forward with them prepared to strike at the vampires while they tackled the wasps.  Everyone else moved forward, as well, although Jaag and Kellan seemed to have trouble moving on the uneven flooring.  Nik finally solved the problem by flying over to Kellan and grabbing him, then using one of the spells granted to him by Fharlanghn, travelled right next to Stirling.  At my next opportunity, I grew Gizmo and the leopards to a much larger size and unleashed them on our foes.  True to the plan, Gizmo started in on the nearest of the vampire spawn, which had flanked Kellan along with Stirling.  It was vitally important to remove the distraction behind Kellan as Stirling seemed to be launching mighty blows.It was a difficult battle, but eventually we were able to reduce Stirling and his spawn to clouds of mist that fled elsewhere.  I'm sure we'll find a way to where he is.  Nik always has a plan...</blockquote>

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