Week 36

The ordainment of Jallisa was done followed by a feast, Rhogar and Tigerwise didn’t mind the large portions of food offered not to mention the drink.  Tigerwise did have a few way to many embarrassing himself by offering rides on his trouser dragon to anyone female.  Even Amber had to look the other way.

The next day Longshadow, Amber, Rhogar and Zan all head out with the sword in their possession. Sardis, Tigerwise and Luceus wanted no part in the quest the others wanted take on so they parted ways wishing them luck and success.

Longshadow lead the way thru the wilderness with the help of the swords guidance.  The journey took three days, for the last day, thick forest has been giving way to rolling foothills.  Now, the hills rise to a sudden wall of rocky peaks rising high above the trees.  a rough gravel path winds its way along the base of the mountains, the first sign of a true trail that you have seen since your departure from Brindol. Still keeping off the old trail to be safer the party stumbles on a shifter dressed in colors that match the forest.  He asks the party what there business was in these parts.  Rhogar and Amber echo what was his business as well.  He sneers back “if you must know I’m staking out the hide out of the Gnolls that have been ravaging the forests here.  The party admits to having  similar reasons for being here.  The Druid shifter offers to help if their aims are the same rid the area of this threat.

They begin to move on soon against the cliff face ahead, a massive stone staircase rises, narrowing as it reaches a set of double stone doors set into the rock wall.  Four large statues, each depicting a githzerai warrior in full combat regalia, stand on pedestals watching over the entrance to Fortress Graystone.  a small waterfall flows down the side of the mountain, eroding a stone balcony set further up the cliff face and leaving the stone steps slick and treacherous.   Two Gnolls are standing in sentry  position on middle of the stairs.  Greymalkin changes to an owl and moves into a position were he can pounce on the sentries.  While in position he finds that two other Gnolls are hiding behind the statues crossbows ready, in his bird form he can’t warn the rest of the party.  Longshadow takes a sniper shot at the sentries Zan, Rhogar and Amber all plan to rush the stairs.  What the party didn’t realize was the the entrance is guarded by a Stonewalker Spirit that jumped into on of the four statues and the possessed statue broke off its perch and attacked the rushers.  The scouts copied Longshadow’s signature move to shoot and duck behind cover.  Zan concentrates his attacks on the possessed statue destroying it only for the Spirit to jump into on the the remaining statues and possessing it to continue its protection of the Fortress.    Greymalkin changed form again into a bear and raked the Wicked Fang Sentries with strong claw strikes.  When the Sentries turned is Shadar-kai Greatsword to retaliate, Greymalkin changes into a dragon roaring in the Gnolls face, making him turn and run for his life.  Changing back into and owl he takes the air and chases after the Gnoll into the forest.  Scouts armed with crossbows had taken pot shots at Longshadow pinning him down at the bottom of the steps.  The Sentry that was left on the stairs slipped on the water taking Zan down with him the two of them battling on their backs Zan winning the battle.    Amber tried using her scimitar to very little help, but did manage to not fall on her back doing it.  Greymalkin returned with his prey and the party had a prisoner to get information from.

total xp 480

Week 35

Jallisa was relieved to be out of the clutches of the Lost Ones and to be able to finally give the party the important message.  “Greetings from Sertanian castellan of the Hall of Great Valor. I beseech you to return to Brindol with all haste, as your presence is needed here.  The matter concerns one of the relics that you helped to recover while saving myself and out town’s other captives in rivenroar, and is most urgent.

The journey from Overlook to Brindol takes a week so the party moves fast to settle their business first.

Along the trip which was swift and eventless the party spent most of their time preparing and enjoying the company while hearing stories of what has been happening in Brindol.  While travelling along the Dwarf Road where it meets the Old North Road just at the foot of the Lake Restlin the party encounters a band of soldiers on patrol.  The leader of the of patrol identifies himself as Zoram Splintershield from the Giant’s shield mountains.  After trading greetings he tells that the past few weeks there have been a number of unprovoked attacks and abductions in the north of Elsir Vale.  Patrols have been scouring the roads in search of these bandits but have come up empty.  The patrols have figured out that Gnolls are behind the abductions although gnolls have been traditionally staying clear of the vale over the years.  Zoram bids the safe journey to Brindol, but warns them to keep a wary eye out for any trouble.

The party arrives at the gates of Brindol in the late evening.  They find the Hall of Valor closed up tight.  Jallisa tells them the Sertanian will likely already be in be at this hour in his home outside of town.  She offers to have them stay at the house of Ioun, but only Longshadow accepts.  The rest of the party headed for their favorite eating hall for the venison to die for.  While there the Rhogar and Amber catch up with the happens of the town, Things have been quiet in Brindol sine that awful business, in Rivenroar, all thanks to the party’s brave efforts, again and always.  Still there’s families packing up and taking to the road, more and more each week.  There’s talk of gnolls attacking settlements in the north, and word of orcs rising up in the Stonehome. Dark days are coming, or so it seems.

On the bright side Jallisa is up to be ordained as a cleric of Ioun in the afternoon of the next day and the party is invited to come to the ceremony as long as the business with Sertanian isn’t pressing.

In the Morning the party makes it’s way to meet at the Hall of Great Valor.  Not much has changed since the last time  you saw the building.  The glass cases lining the walls with relics of Elsir Vale’s past.  Three freestanding displays show off artifacts of the vanquished Red Hand of Doom, a large map of the surrounding lands updated with the Hand’s most recent forays against Elsir Vale and it’s people.  Where he dusts relics in a display case across the room a familiar grey-haired figures rises. Sertanian smoothes out his stained smock as he bows. “My friends,” he says “Welcome back to Brindol”.  The party can tell the old soldier is in a state of unease while he is locking the doors to the Hall.  He starts telling the party the reason for there summons. The platinum blade that was one of the treasures recovered from Sinruth and his hobgoblin horde.  Upon it’s return it seemed fine without any change and no held no magic it’s greatest value it’s legend and sentiment.  But then a week ago, while working late at night. Sertanian said he heard a voice, calling him. From its case, the sword spoke to him, beseeching him to summon heroes to its aid. It asked for all of the party by name.

The sword was then removed from the case and brought to the back room.  Sertanian leads the party back there.  As soon as they shut the door, a woman’s voice weakly says, “you have come, my heroes, but my thanks must be brief. I am Amyria, and I have summoned you her from great need.  I know it must seem strange to hear me speak, but I assure you that this form is only temporary.  It is for that reason that I beseech you for your aid.”  The voice goes on, “Decades ago, a race of monastic’s born of the Elemental Chaos established a fortress in Elsir Vale.  These were the githzerai, who lived secretly in the remote outpost before suddenly vanishing.  Their Fortress of Graystone was well hidden, and remained uninhabited for long years.

Some months ago. Fortress Graystone was invaded and claimed by a pack of gnoll mercenaries calling themselves the Wick Fang.  Their leader, a sadistic follower of the demon lord Yeenoghu, has begun to send his raiders out into Elsir Vale and beyond.  In recent weeks, this gnoll chieftain Fangren has managed to open a conduit of power to Yeenoghu’s realm in the Elemental Chaos.  He plans to claim some small fragment of the demon lord’s power, transforming himself into an exarch of the Beast of Butchery.  It was the creation of this conduit that awoke me from my age-long slumber.  “If Fangren completes his ritual, demonic forces will have gained a foothold in the mortal realm.  More importantly, that conduit to the Elemental Chaos can be manipulated through a ritual that I will provide to you.  This is the boon that I pray you grant me.  Bring me to Fortress Graystone and free me from this prison.

The party agrees to take the sword to the Fortress Greystone. It’s been estimated to be a three day journey.  They turned to the door to leave a sudden crash from the hall outside is punctuated by an explosion of fire. A burning bottle has been lobbed through one of the hall’s windows, shattering to spread flaming liquid across tables and display cases. a moment later, the locked front door is kick open, a squad of armed figures bursting in.  Running into the Hall a pair of Dwarfs along with a pair of Human both sets wearing leather armor.  Followed by a Halfling wielding a rapier and swinging bolas.  Longshadow directs two arrows at the Halfling, who retaliates with a set of bolas restraining Longshadow.  He breaks free and screams ”that is why children shouldn’t play with toys.  Amber, Tigerwise, Sardis and Rhogar run up to meet the dwarfs and humans before they start to wrecking the place.   The fireball used to break the window started a fast spreading fire making the price of not taking out this enemy fast high.  The flames moved around the room with great speed, Rhogar and Sardis took the Human subdoers down.  Longshadow and Rhogar dodged the greataxes of the dwarves and found the soft spots in there armor to take them out too.  Amber and Tigerwise aided as much as they could and putting out the flames and the enemy.  Sardis used is teleport skill to get close enough to the Halfling to give him a mortal wound.  Fleeing didn’t help the snaremaster for when he got outside all he did was perish.

Before leaving on the next adventure Longshadow and his companions witnessed Jallisa get ordained.  Rhogar and Amber stocked up with the needed supplies for the journey.  Zan and Leucis arrive in Brindol just in time to leave the next morning.  Longshadow did get to a shrine of Corellon and meet with the priestess Galanz.  He returns the skull he found in the mine of Karak tell of the soul that as been in unrest.  The Priestess thanks Longshadow for his care in the matter and tells of the debt her shrine owes him.

Total weekly Xp

350  excluding Zan and Luecis

Week 33

The party savages whatever they think could be useful for the trip back to Overlook.  Longshadow spent a lot of time carving a good section of the Naga’s hide and dragged it everywhere they went.  The trek thru the desert was not as bad with the storm not pounding them.

Dunesend was a welcome sight to the weary travelers.  The town leader Lotho Elberesk was with open arms welcoming them back.  The Warden has not been replaced, the fields have been flourishing, caravans have been starting again. The party has been responsible for it all happening.  Moab offered to start a military depot to protect the town from further problems.  Longshadow dragged his Nagahide  booty to the smithy where he wished for Darkus Comahni to create a set of armor and boots from the materials.  Of course Darkus refused any payment for the work. Two days later Longshadow donned his spiffy set of Naga hide armor.  Rhogar and Sardis traded weapon techniques with Moab and the new recruits for the town watch.  Tigerwise spent most of his time at Bede’s bakery filling his face with the best the place could offer.  Amber used her time in Dunesend to rethink her way of battle.  Concentrating on using only one weapon than two.  Less swings hopefully mean less chances to injure herself with a clumsy offhand swing.

Bidding good fortune and tidings the party headed in the thornwaste.  Mag Blackthorn greeted the party yet again this time with the hand of friendship first.  He thanks the Ghostlord for giving him the mental capacity to not attack the party on site when they passed only a few days ago.  The good deeds they performed were great indeed.  Dunesend will be a mark on the map now that the evil has been staunched out.  Mag guided the party again thru the thornwaste and bid them farewell when the road to Overlook was in site.  Both Rangers shared in the smoke that they both so enjoy.

Overlook is still preparing for a war against the demi-humans hordes looking to take over the Vale.  The guards allow them passage with little resistant even with Tigerwise teasing the guards about their uniforms.  The meeting with Bram Ironfell took place the very next evening and he made his payment to the four original members taking the task.  As well as pay for lodging for all of them here at the elftown inn.  Amber made herself right at home in the tavern bar followed by Rhogar and Tigerwise who seemed to take a liking to the female population of the place.  Longshadow and Zan relax in one of the corners of the tavern drinking a stout brew, while listening to Leucis spin a tale to anyone willing to listen.  Sardis kept to himself most of the time, following everyone’s movements waiting for a fight to start but it never came.  Good moods spread throughout the night and some took a well needed rest in a comfortable bed,  even Longshadow couldn’t resist the idea of sleeping on down fill mattresses.

The next morn the party split up to do some errands,  Longshadow, Rhogar, and Amber were strolling in the market when Khalid popped out arms open in his captains uniform. Promotions are fast in these dangerous times lad.  Khalid compliments their success with the Ironfell clan and mentions that a messenger from Brindol was looking for you for the last two days.  Funny thing was since you haven’t been back until last night I found it funny she has stopped inquiring about you.  She was very pretty and requested you all by name.  With that said Khalid had to go off to train some more recruits complaining the younger they are the harder they are to train.

Rhogar and Sardis move into the market place and seek out some local street rat and find exactly what they needed.  Rhogar scares the info and whatever the urchin had for lunch.  Seems the Lost ones found the Brindol messenger first and took her captive.  A bit more convincing from the empty bowelled rat released the location the Lost ones have been using to hold her.  The old Temple of Pelor in the nine bells district.  Eventually the party got back together and headed towards the Temple of Pelor.  While travelling thru the district during the rainy and stormy night the party is warned by a pair of voices out the the darkness.  Then a lightning crash shows the owner of the voices to be two elves with eye patches cover one of there eyes.  Their warning is that the lost ones aren’t going to be gentle when the party finds them.  They have more than just the bounty on your heads to collect, seems you have made vengeful enemies of their band.  Then another flash and the twins were gone.

They reach the odd shaped building that was a Temple of Pelor.  Checking thru the windows of the worn unkept building they can see Jalissa the acolyte of Ioun gagged, blindfolded and bound to a wooden chair in the middle of the wet marble floor.

Total Weekly XP 125

except for Leucis and Zan