2nd Campaign, A1, Session 8. 7/8/26

Birthmonth the 14th, 12:23 AM.

With 3 of the Aspis in the webbing, Cara stood back with her enchanted spear and kept throwing it at the foes, hitting them, and using the enchanted weapon to hit again and again. Healing was dispensed and we discussed options. The way back was clearish now, but outside of the fecal scented corridor, we wanted to keep going.

We burned the last of the web away and by 12:45 Am, were moving on. The passage opened to an oval chamber, 40 by 30. Smaller ant tunnels stretched out in places, but there were 3 main sized passages we could go: North, Northwest, and South. Sylas tracked what he could, not getting much, maybe orcish prints headed south and lesser to the northwest.

We went south, following the passage as it turned south and then southwest. The smell of rot was growing. A chamber 25’ circular was here. A 3’ wide passage was in the middle heading south, with a pair of 3’ deep troughs on each side filled with soil and garbage. Rotting produce was along the rest of the chamber, making the temperature warm and the air foul. We thought, but weren’t sure, there might be something under the soil in the troughs.

We went single file along the path, avoided anything else, to the other south passage. Striding through there we could smell the growing scent of feces and sewage. 1:20 AM, the sewage chamber here was 50’ wide, 35 north to south. A narrow 2’ ledge circled the center of the room where it looked like a pond of sewage water stagnated. There was a large exit to the west, and 2 smaller ones to the south and east. Gun let us know the east one most likely met up with the original feces smelling passage we had first encountered when we came down.

It was the sight of a 3’ long maggot swimming through the pond that had us just turn around and leave. This isn’t worth it. We went back through the rot room and then finally back to the chamber where we had encountered the ants and Aspis. We figured to now head down the northwest passage.

Cara shook the lantern, we had about 6 hours left. The passage was narrow, barely 5’, about 7’ tall. It meandered for a while before a half hour of walking had it “Y” to the northweast and the northwest. No real guide so we went northeast. After 15 more minutes it split again, Northeast or west. From here the west passage looked short and we could faintly hear echo of a voice or two down the northeast, so we went that way.

2:35 Am, the corridor turned to the west and there was a chamber beyond here, well lit, orcish voices, and someone else. Faint sewer smell. We figured that one of us would be better than all of us. Hrimvir went. At the end of the passage was a rough ladder going down. 20 x 25 office area, desk ,some guy there decked out with a half dozen giant weasels at his feet, large circular chamber beyond, some sewer filled moats, stairs out, and 10 orcs there with crossbows.

He tried bluffing, saying he was sent here. Pretending to be a slaver or a guy looking to be hired. This was apparently the leader of the local slavers. Valeria’s name was dropped and he said, strange, she’s here showing wares and you were never mentioned. Hrimvir was getting a bad idea when the guy pretty much said kill this guy and clicked at the weasels twice. They sprung into action as he turned and ran, crossbow bolts hitting his cloak but not him.

We all ran down the passage as fast as we could. A precipitation spell on the wet soily ceiling followed by some hits as we ran on collapsed it behind us and would slow the weasels and the slaver down. “Boss,” Hrimvir said panting. “Not yet.”

We headed back to the first split and went up the stairs there after a short walk. It was the graveyard above and Yandr did a detect evil, getting half a dozen ghouls up there. Nope. We went back down and headed out some more, eventually getting to the “Y” intersection. From here we went northwest.

It was about 20 after 3 and we walked about for 20 minutes or so until the passage smoothed out and opened up to a finished area. We could hear voices and crept closer. Looking we could see it was a slave chamber. 14 or so cages floor to ceiling ,each with a slave in it. Big room. Couple doors on the east side, and maybe stairs out at the far end of the room. Slaver woman here with a big weapon and a few orc guards showing off the slaves to some buyer, a heavy set man breathing through a perfumed handkerchief.

We figured we could take this bunch. The party set ourselves up. Sleep spells, summons, crossbow bolts. And we began the attack. The first orc went down, then the sleep spell took out 2 more and a slave in the nearest cage. The orcs returned fire with their own crossbows, Sylas and Gun running for the corner to get better shots. A slave was killed by our fire, and the orcs killed one as well. The merchant was knocked out but the slaver woman had a battle axe and was stalking towards us. Hrimvir and Yandr took up position to take her out, swinging and hitting. Sylas ran down to the end and was looking to get around the other side when two Aspis came down the stairs and hurled a shit ton of darts at the ranger, making him drop and block.

A summoned capuchin monkey pick pocketed the woman slaver, taking a stone and running back towards us. Another orc went down. And then from the side door a mage and a few orc guards came out. He hurled what seemed to be shooting stars from a ring at the party, hurting Atlas from the impact. Orcs followed and we tried another sleep spell. Magic missiles answered and then a giant tick was summoned and it ran down, burying its head into the party and sucking blood at a rapid pace.

Hrimvir reversed his stance and was running back while Yandr faced off against the woman. One Aspis was down and Sylas was retreating from the last standing one. The mage his back in his room and was doing something. Hrimvir used the rod of cancellation on the summoned tock, bampfing it away. We opened the door to the mage’s room and it was empty. Where is he?!? We were still facing a lone Aspis warrior and the woman slaver but the tide had been turned. The 13 slaves (10 now) were hoping to be released and we didn’t know if more wandering monsters were on the way. Combat is not over yet. Birthmonth the 14th, 3:56 AM.

Meet 164, Adv 17, 6/27/26

Firemonth 13th, 5:10 AM. Captain Asher went off and cast Silence 15’ radius on 2 coins, handing one to Shim and keeping one for himself, after making sure the gnome could invisible him again. The 3 of them all touched hand to shoulder and entered the Cinder Vein Guild Hall. At the nearest corner they let go of Shim and both Captain Asher and Wilhelm went around the corner, doing their best to step around the 2 skinks sleeping there and heading to the Kroxigor’s. They were to wait for Shim’s signal that he was in place around the guard iguana.

Swords up and waiting, the plan immediately derailed as the zone of silence surrounded the iguana. It got excited, worried, and then leapt to the nearest lizardman, claws extended, waking it up with a wave of limbs, scattering weapons and supplies, making some noise in between the zones, and waking up other lizardmen.

This surprised us, but Captain Asher still had the wherewithal to slam his blade into the korxigor’s throat, killing it. While Wilhelm was watching the chaos with wide eyes. Shim crawled forward under the table and fired off 3 dancing lights backwards, illuminating the area. The rest of the party entered fast.

A few of us ran north towards the lizardmen there, yelling and waking up others, while Captain Asher lunged towards Wilhelm’s Korxigor and killed that one next. The battle began to rage on, Darius taking the front of the fight on the north side, Connal running up the middle to engage the enemies there, Nate following behind, trident stabbing out. Eoghan picked what shots he could, firing into the mass of running saurials. None of them had armor and most eschewed weapons, relying on claws and bites for now.

Wilhelm’s cats hit the closest skink together, ripping it apart, while the druid and Maglubiyat’s chosen worked together taking each successive saurial apart together. Eoghan’s dogs came around the north corner, running with Darius to engage there while the fighter used his enchanted axe to brutally murder each and every lizardman that dared to get close to his blade. The fight was decidedly against the lizardmen. Blow after blow fell, most everything bounced off of Darius and few if any struck Connal – the 2 of them spearheading the worst of the fight.

Eoghan got a bit buffeted and his dogs suffered some but eventually the last blow was struck and the battle ended. In the quiet after, we waited, but the sound of our combat did not alert anywhere else in the city. We gathered the useable shields we could, placing spares in the corner. We then reviewed the bit map, identifying the main shaft down, an air shaft, intake and exhaust, and some water wheel further away. There was talk about heading out and seeing if the pump could be activated but we abandoned that plan as the hour was growing long and dawn was coming soon.

Shim presitdigated us clean and we checked the 2nd floor. In the room with the ramp, the lizardmen had placed a crate, 3 by 3 by 3, lined inside and outside with lead sheathing. Weighed about 70 lbs. They had also made a wooden ramp running up here, as well as some rope and a leather netting was in place. Maybe to hoist the phazonire eventually?

We crossed the grounds and ended up at the entrance building to the mine. We could see the canaries were gone, but there was a cage with 5 lizard birds here, and 2 canary cages, some rope, and harnesses. However when we tried to enter, the magic items we had on us began to grow warm and then painfully hot. We backed up and tested a few other ways. They all ended up the same. Potions, rings, armor, weapons. The only thing we had going our way was spell scrolls were not affected, and the magic users were also ok.

This meant we’d have to heave all our magic items here. Until we could get the phazonire inside the mine vault and have the golem seal the door. We went back for the box and used it to put all out magic in. We put one of the lizardbirds into the cage, went through Leomund’s hut and gathered what supplies we thoughts we’d need, and left the crate closed and not sealed with Emmit, Amara, and Martin. As soon as the bard would start his repulsion song it would eventually carry through the streets but ward him and the knight and her squire for some time. How long? He said 10 hours, that was our window of time.

We set up what we could and were ready to go down at 6:35 Am, Firemonth the 13th.

2nd Campaign, A1, Session 7. 6/24/26

Birthmonth the 13th, 11:30 PM. With Yandr and Cara at the bottom of the ladder in the dirt tunnel giving the green light, the rest of the party began the long trek down to the catacombs. There was much jockeying for position because except for Rhareli and Gun, the tight tunnel did not make it easy for the party to change position in line.

The tunnel was 7, 8’ tall. Every 15’ was some wooden beams on the sides and a support plank across the roof supporting it. But there was a danger to the place as per the gnome, if one was to mess with the ceiling. The air was warm, had a hot spicy smell to it, undercut with the aroma of sewage. Finally set, we headed off and began walking north, Sylas tracking as best he could.

Most of the tracks were orcish, clad in boots, long strides. Some bare foots tracks were here as well, the strides shorter and dragging; most likely slaves. There were also some strange insectoid or bird like tracks, but very large. Cara shook the lantern, letting us know we had a bit over a third left at this time.

After some time the passage had a side passage dug into it going left (west). The scent of sewage was very strong here, enough to make our eyes water and throats close up. After cover our faces and walking away, Yandr opined, “Safe to say there is no reason to ever go down that passage.” We kept going north.

The passage was widening slowly as we walked along, allowing us to go 2 and then 3 abreast even though the ceiling remained the same height. Small side passages, about 2 or 3’ tall were on both sides. Gun was volunteered to look in, seeing nothing in the first but hearing movement. On the second he had Cara tilt the lantern light in and saw ants. Big like dog sized ants. And they came spilling out.

We were faced with 9 of the almost 2’ long insects. And they bit and bit hard. Their shells were tough and blows bounced off of them. And then from another corridor 9 more came out, then 5 more came out. We were beset across the front 5 or 6 deep and we quickly shuffled the lines and the ants attacked.

Cara shot off a fairy fire spell with helped. It was too tight to hit properly with arrows or bolts and the ants shrugged off most hits. We took down, one and then another. Gun faded back and Rhareli stepped up. Yandr and Hrimvir were getting hit, Carl was doing what he could from 2nd rank. A summon spell got us a kobold to help out. As we were getting hit, Carl swung his lucern hammer high, hit the ceiling, and caved it in, burying himself and 3 of the party members in the dirt, preventing us from retreating now.

“Damn it!”

We tried to get shovels in play but it was hard to do. Hrimvir had his skeletal servant dig as best he could and we could hear Thobar was suffering the worst, the hireling literally buried alive. The kobold fumbled, hitting the party members instead. It was a bit of a touch and go but the ant swarm was finally coming down.

That’s when the Aspis drones showed up. Anthropomorphic ants, they were a bit over 6 and a half feet tall, 4 arms working 2 shields and 2 weapons, and they came closer to hit us. Atlas used one of the found and precious scrolls of web to stop them, catching 3 and the 4th closing. The group was getting dug out as we poured on attacks on the dwindling giant ants and the one lone Aspis drone attacking the group until finally it was slain, leaving 3 drones in the web facing us, and 3 giant ants still attacking the party.

18 rounds of combat so far. Firemonth the 14th, 12:23 AM

Meet 163, Adv 17, 6/20/26

Firemonth 12th, 2:35 PM. We discussed options and decided that we would stay here in the Knight’s Hall until nightfall or later. Most of us were tired and we figured we’d rest for a while eventually. Keeping our voices down, eating cold rations, and no lights, we talked to Ebbit, Almara, and Martin for a while. At some point the thought was to look at the Cinder Vein Guild area again and get a better lay of the land regarding the lizardmen in the area.

Knowing we wanted to have some daylight but most of us needed to sleep, the group went to bed about 6ish and a bit after 7, Wilhelm cast Reflecting Pool again, with a few others hanging out to watch. Over the 7 minute window he took a look around the knight hall (empty roadway), shot up 600’ to get a lay of the land, came to the road heading to Cinder vein and saw 4 saurial warriors with a wheelbarrow with lanterns, ropes, and leather harnesses, got a heads up of the guild hall, noted 2 Kroxigor’s on the 2nd floor, a slope running from the 3nd floor window down to the 1st, and a rough count now of 20 or so skinks, saurials, and Kroxigors on site.

We went to sleep and a few of us kept watch. About 11 PM a dragon (blue) flew over the city with leisurely ease, but for the most part, no one came by. Finally it was 2:30. We prayed, studied, handed out some healing, and left, heading our way north and east through the alleys and streets until we came at long last to Cinder Vein.

The out wall was not climbable so it was the main doorway. A Silent Portal and Unlock spell followed, and we had a chance to look in. 20 or so sleeping lizardmen in the 2 alcoves, long room, other door closed – and a lizard, chameleon/iguana on a desk, 65’ away, watching us. We closed the door and went through quite a number of plans before getting ready to go in, take care of the iguana/alarm and kill off the Kroxigors if we can. Firemonth 13th, 5:10 AM

Meet 162, Adv 17, 6/13/26

Firemonth 12th, 7:50 AM. 2 Miles west of Upperton. The group spent some time going over our approach of the town, using the maps we had gathered back in Staz as well as Wilhelm’s prodigious use of Reflecting Pool to scan the place out. We had to make it to Cinder Vein Mines on the east end of town, and even invisible we risk having our trial seen from the watch towers. Plus there was the bard, Ebbit, in the theatre and the 2 knights with him we could help escape.

We decided to split the party. Asher, Connal, and Shim would go to the Theatre and contact Ebbit through his ward, and get the bard to join us. The rest of us would take a northerly tack, make it to the northern grange tower, and after a few hours, use Wilhelm’s crumble spell to destroy it. In the intervening chaos, we could head east and then make our way to the Knights’ Hall and meet up with Asher’s group at the same place. We gave a window between 1 and 4 PM to have it happen, trusted Rhygar with the wagon and horses, and were on our way but not before having sacred guardian cast on Wilhelm (6 days) and Iron Silence cast on Asher and Darius (6 hours).

We trekked off into the ever present and rising hills. Most of them were 4 to 6 hundred feet in height and the road stayed in the valley between when able. About 15 minutes shy of town, Wilhelm cast his last spell, Hide From Animals and out 2 group separated.

The northern group left the road and went over hills until we arrived at the forested area as shown in the Pool earlier. The trees were in poor condition but provided plenty of cover for us. We trekked east until we came to a plantation style farm house. We moved through the fields, distantly seeing the grange tower a quarter mile from here. We avoided the apple orchard, saw a few skinks wandering about, and made it to the northern tree line. We could see the grange tower much closer (600’), and 4 more lizardmen and a Razordon at the base for now, keeping camp. We went eastward a bit more the map out the land and then returned to the trees, waiting until 1/1:30 to start our assault. It would mean at least 2 more invisibility to animal spells between now and then (Razordon scents us, it’s all over), but definitely worth it.

The 2nd group veered south, giving the southern grange tower a wide berth, trusting the non-scrying limits of the guild hall for cover. The 3 of them went through the guild groups with care and at the town proper, waited for the right time and passage of foes before risking to hit the streets. The lizardmen in the area had torn down fences, making a crude road between the steelworks and the lumberyard. They waited until it was open and then crossed, losing themselves in town.

Staying off the main roads they arrived at Ebbit’s Theatre. 4 stories, doors sealed, steel shutters in place protected the interior, no sign the lizardmen had gotten inside. There was 2nd story windows, no 3rd, and a smaller 4th floor with a private walk up there, most likely an apartment. As for entering, there was no obvious way in. Plus we were only 2 blocks or so from the cast grounds and we could hear way too many lizardmen over there.

We went around back and found a back door there. But there was a fire escape 11 feet up that could be pulled down. So Connal went over there, looked at it for 30 seconds, then walked back and it was like he forgot the last 3 minutes. Ok – warded. So we had a second attempt and the same thing happened. Repulsion ward.

As for the other group, they got a 2nd hide from animals in place and then a bit after 1, crept closer to the grange tower. At a good spot some 15, 20’ off the ground, Wilhelm (in cat form) cast his spell and a wave of discordant black and blue energy swept out, his the edge of the tower, burned the wood away, and caused the entire structure to slowly lean to the side and fall. We wasted no time watching and instead ran off to the east and then south, losing ourselves in the city and heading for the Knight’s Hall as the lizardmen back at the tower sounded the alarm with some spinning device that was calling the other locals to come. Skinks, ones, twos, and fives ran through the street and we moved on to the Knight’s Hall. Room for 25, empty, we entered the main doors (broken but still hinged), made it to the 2nd floor, and hid up there waiting. Time? 2:05 PM

Asher’s group had a different idea, Shim would make it to the shutters and force a dancing lights spell inside. He got closer, expended lots of his mental energy, and succeeded. But the bard within stormed out of the theatre, playing his lute and snuffing out the lights. Then Shim was trapped in some 6 month nightmare where he was captured by the Theocrat’s people and tortured continuously in the reeducation camps.

The effect did end and Ebbit made himself known. He opened the wards and we entered. He was 9 days dirty. He assumed the Baron had dispatched the group here to save him, not the case. We met the Knight Almara Farnsdottr (orcish knight, badly wounded, killed a stegadon during the last rout of the city and was left behind with a 5 other count of Upperton’s knights by the Lord.) and her squire Martin of Camber (a few years younger, big farmer looking kid, uses a heavy crossbow with torture bolts).

We had to explain who we were and dismayed them that they had not been noted as missing and we were not particularly there on the behest of the local lord to save them. This pissed them off but they wanted out. We shared who we were and that we needed to get to Cinder Vein Mines and seal it off there, raw material the Kaiser would want and we did not want the lizardmen to get. They shared with us the lizard man leader Stel Cragshanks, and was holed up in the Castle. They were gathering supplies and setting up for the next foray this time to Staz in 2 to 3 weeks.

We wanted their help getting to the mine and if Ebbit would use his bardic skill to keep the lizardmen at bay. He was happy to help. Some healing was doled out and we used the hut, nap trick to get everyone inside. From there it was a fast run for Connal to make it to the Knight’s Hall, signal to the rest of the group. We opened the hut and everyone was introduced to one another. Almara and Martin were pretty taken with Darius (another knight) and there was much discussion and professional envy back and forth.

We came up with a plan to sit tight for now and wait for the cover of nightfall to get to Cinder Vein. Then once there Ebbit would set up a repulsion charm (being it would not be his own theatre, it would be much smaller), while the group entered Furnace Hollow and looked for the phazonire and the golem. Time now? 2:55 PM, Firemonth the 12th

2nd Campaign, A1, Session 6. 6/10/26

Birthmonth the 13th. We expected to return to the Temple of Gruumsh tonight, the local watch had finished their investigation, and an 18 count of orcish and half orcish militants headed by a Karraway, had been taken out and placed in the jail awaiting trial. The Temple had been briefly looked over and a new set of chains and locks were in place. So we would have to sneak again through the refuse trench along the back and enter through the broken wall.

Father Falder was getting worried, there were precious few rags for us to take to cover feet with, and we promised to bring back the bundles we had left at the wall when we returned next. When curfew was called at 8 we got ready and at 8:15, snuck out of the Uller Temple grounds and made our way westward to the main road. From there we snuck behind Temple Row and traveled westward until we came upon the break in the wall again. And when we looked for the hobo sacks of rags we had left here – they had been found and taken – most likely by the city guards when they raided the place.

We worked our way west and then north, crossing the grounds along the wall of the Temple. We passed the stables and this time heard nothing from within. At the front of the place, we came to the Woodcutter’s shed and it too was uninhabited. A Detect Evil by the paladin had 2 pings, he was sure was ghouls by their taste, south and far from here.

We snuck along to the portcullis and slipped through the bent bars here and slightly out of view from the main street. The 2nd set was down and we were going to need to lift the gates. 5 of us grabbed the lower bars and lifted – the gates rose to about 2 feet tall and Gun slipped under. He went to the eastern winch house, wound the chain slack up, and then engaged the locking bar.

Once safe, the party crawled under and looked about the Courtyard. The burn marks were pretty deep. There was a set of double doors running south which the slave child assured us led to the way out he took between the legs of Gruumsh. There was also an eastern door here. According to the escaped slave, both Elwita and Karraway would come from above many times, and it wasn’t always from the other way in the temple. Meaning there might be another way down.

We checked the eastern door and once sure it was ok, opened up. The Temple beyond here had been cleaned up and the passage went east, then turned south. We entered, lit the lantern, and moved on. Passage went east, then south, then east again. The smell of sewage and standing water was climbing. Along the 2nd eastern hall we saw 2 doors on the north wall, one about 30’ down, the other maybe 50’ and at the end of the hall.

After clearing the first door, we opened it to see the Cloister Garden, an open air garden of vibrant flowers, a single dirt path running north 70 feet to another door, and stunted dying trees. We did NOT enter at first, the path showed signs of often use, booted prints – orcish? Plus a few places were some oversized eagle or vulture had hopped around. Not nice. Rhareli tried to stay in there a moment door closed to listen or spot anything, and no go.

The last door we opened and saw a slow moving river of moving water about 3’ down. It was  a mix or water and sewage and it ran off to the north. There was a door here propped up on the side, and a 10’ long pole. We could risk getting on the door and poling down the passage…or we could just not do that at all because it sounds terrible. We shut the door and went back to the garden.

We crossed with care, NOT STEPPING OFF THE PATH OR ON THE GRASS!!

There was a single oversized vulture greasy feather a few feet off the path under a tree. Atlas used a mage hand spell to swarm over there, pick it up, and bring it back to him. At the other side of the chamber we listened and then opened the door, returning to the temple. Large room, nice floor. Two candles here, picked over as if tallow as ripped off. The group thought it was a good idea and took a bunch of tallow as well. After making sure there were no secret doors, we left on the east door.

Passage south joined up with the other end of the shit river passage, corridor north had a door on the left side and a section that kept going. We checked the door first and entered. Slave room. South wall had 20 chains and manacles mounted there. There was a side room with a table and some hooks. Gave the room a solid once over. At the far end we found a ring set in the floor and was sure it was a hatch that would lead down. Right now we wanted to clear out the rest of the area so we went back to the hall and went north.

As we traveled along we got to a final door and the temple here was in bad shape. Opening it up it was a dormitory but it looks like the fire had reached here. The ceiling was partially collapsed. Before we risked entering, Rhareli was staring at the ceiling intently and assured us that it would cave in if we went in and poked around. Taking the gnome’s advice, we left and traveled all the way back to the Courtyard.

At 10:30 PM we opened the double doors looking south and stopped. The hall was long, 80’, and there were alcoves on each side every 10’, each one had a full sized stone statue of either an orc with a weapon up ready to attack, or a gargoyle claws wide and mouth open to bite. No one trusted it. We summoned a creature, getting a monkey. It came in, hooted ,and started down the hall at our request. After 50’ there was a flash of light and some groaning and the two statues on either side lifted up and slammed across the hall to the other side. The monkey was dispelled.

We got closer and a detect magic let us know there was a 10’ wide, 10’ tall, 5’ deep magical area. Not sure what it was we looked around and then had the thought to throw something in the zone. Instead, Hrimvir picked up a nearby gargoyle statue, placed it outside the magic zone, and pushed it in. Again a flash of light and the 2 statues on the floor flew out, hit the existing statue and broke into a bunch of pieces. A few of us got peppered with rubble but now there were 3 broken statues here. We tried another statue and again parts flew everywhere, over 2,000 lbs of flying rubble.

Not wanting to risk getting hurt, Hrimvir used the rod of cancellation we had and for a solid minute, turned off the glyph. We all ran through and stopped at the last set of double doors. Once sure it was clear, we entered and beheld the temple itself.

Large room, 12’ statue to Gruumsh with an upraised sword on a 3 step dais. A poor box mounted on the wall here. We entered and spread out. There was a door at the back of the room behind the dais. The Poor box was hung on the wall. We took it off and slid the back open, revealing a couple dozen brass bits and 8 commons. There was also a stone statue of a troll, about 3 to 4” tall in here, like a child’s toy. But when we picked it up, it swelled to full size and attacked the party. Sylas got a lucky fast attack on it but the troll was right there and was hitting us.

Sylas’ flaming sword gave it pause, and then there were other targets to attack. We shot at it and stabbed at it, and it healed every round. Finally we got enough blows in to drop it to zero. Sylas was letting the group know that we had a few minutes tops to burn it before it would spontaneously heal and attack us all over again. Oil was doused, we tore open one vein, got a vial of blood, and then set the damned thing alight. The smell was foul and it turned to sludge quickly, rotting away.

Through the back door we heard squeaking. Lots of it. No one thought it was worth opening especially since someone had written on it, Danger, do not open, in charcoal.

We looked over the base of the statue and found a section of stone that flipped up, revealing an iron ring below. Success. We twisted it, and it took a few tries, but we opened it up showing a dark hole going down. Smell of dirt, pus, bugs, and sewage wafted up. Yandr was volunteered to go first, and he went down 25’ to 30’ to the bottom. Rough dirt and stone cave, barely 5’ wide, 8’ tall. One by one we all went down and were discussing marching order. Path only went north from here. Birthmonth 13th, 11:20 PM

Meet 161, Adv 17, 6/6/26

Firemonth the 11th, 8:15 Am. After talking to Doggar Skullbeat and Lord Ginnias, we went out to the stables to help get the battlewagon and horses ready. Using the Kaiser’s scrip, we also made sure the water and food was topped off. The local kids, refugees, were haunted and tired looking, but Jack and Lou were a big hit. Watching us get the horses and wagon ready, a single knight approached us from a local field hospital filled with wounded soldiers. He stood near Wilhelm, watching the cats play, leaning on a crutch as his left leg was a mangled mess.

He identified himself as Captain Damias Parbody, of the 2nd Borbute Cavalry Company. He and the 1st Stivil had been responsible for rear guard during the evacuation of Upperton and he couldn’t help but notice it looked like we were heading that way. They had just left it 9 days ago, a few hours ahead of the main lizardman army, and still were hard pressed by the saurian forces. As it was of the 300 in his company, about 4 in 9 died, and 3 in 9 were wounded.

He talked about the Starlitzian Lizardmen. They are bred to be without pain, the weak are eaten. And they are convinced that given enough time, their ultimate win over the Randari Ympire is inevitable. Wilhlem listened and thanked him, but said their leader, Captain Asher, said they had to go and that’s what they were going to do.

Captain Damias gave us some advice, there is a waystation about 2 miles shy of town, the Starlitzian hadn’t gotten there yet. It was a good place to bring the battlewagon, because if they tried to ride it into town, it would be seen at a distance. There are some watchtowers in town and if he was in charge, he’d have some lookouts on it. Wilhelm thanked him and went to the group.

As for the rest of us, We had talked to Doggar Skullbeat. The words to activate the golem (Shatterstone) were best said by someone with some magical ability. Bellweather, Optical, Sedentary, Cumulous, Carnival, Bolster. The Cinder Vein Mining Guild is on the east end of town and composes two mines – a surface strip mine for tin and zinc, and a deeper mine for nickel iron and Phazonire called Furnace Hollow.

We listened to Wilhelm’s advice from Captain Damais and wanted a bit more information. Shim went around to the kids who were willing to talk, shared some copper and brass coins and a few pounds of rock candy – but we got a pretty good layout of the town including the location of the mill, great hall, bardic college, theatre, market, and other locales. It meant leaving a bit later but since we were NOT going to try and make Upperton but instead the waystation, 9:30 was not a bad time.

The land rose and fell the further we rode away from Staz. The road tried to stay in the valley as much as possible. The hills started small but eventually rose about 600’ in height. Most of the land was blasted black, little sign of growth or grasses. The trees were dried and leaned dangerously over, ragged yellow leaves stubbornly clinging to the branches. The standing water was brackish and had a metallic taste. The clouds had a progressively looking green cast to them.

Sure enough, about 5 ish we came upon a small group of warehouses with a watertower in place. The walls and ceiling were sound, and the water tower was still rocking a few hundred gallons of water. We set up camp and discussed our options. No matter what, Shim wanted to make sure we were invisible. So he cast his entire allotment of them on everyone. We then discussed animals that would be coming. Rhygar was going to stay here with the wagon and horses. Wilhelm suggests Jack and Lou stay behind as well. A detect weather spell followed letting us know dry and cloudless skies ahead.

It was about 6:30 and we had a solid hour and half of day light left. It was here we figured, let’s see if we can scry instead of getting to town and fumbling about. So we used one of the water barrels, everyone gathered around, and then Wilhelm called to Shakak to start the scrying.

Starting from where we were, he eventually managed to find Upperton by going high, following the road, and them looking down at the entirely of the city. Home to 15 thousand? Normally. Half mile diameter, main road goes in from the west, loops around the north, and then makes its way south and west out of town. Some smoke, lots to see.

With a few minutes left on the spell, he moved to the Tradehouse and first major area we’d hit entering the city. Building was smashed in, goods all over the place, a 10 plus count of lizardmen wandering about. And a 25’ tall carnasaur just standing on the roof looking around. Holy hell.

He then took us east a block and a half to the Marketsquare, where 25 plus Kroxigor lizardmen were keeping home. Damn it. There was something across the street so at the end of the spell he took us over there, and it was a fire. A bad fire. Most of the homes had been destroyed over 300’ of roadway, but the basements were still burning somehow, filling the sky with smoke and soot. Spell ended.

He cast again. Looking at the kid’s markings, he went south to the guild halls but was stopped at the walls, warded and wards still in place. Went north to the Vetterman’s Steelworks. They have a Besemer forge in town so Upperton can make high density iron and steel products. The 20 or lizardmen here were cataloging the steel rods, bundling them up and loading them on Stegadons and their travois to be taken elsewhere to be used for lizardmen weaponry.

Went to the Greathall next and 60 lizardmen were bivouacking there. The 2nd guild hall section was also warded, the brewery was being cataloged, 10 lizardmen on site. Ebbit’s theatre was next but when we tried to enter, the main floor just repelled his scry. Not a ward, but something else. So he lifted the image to the 2nd floor, went through a window and looked. Inside was a stage and an elderly bard was sitting there, strumming his lute. Two orcish warriors were here, on the knight was missing an eye, and the other seemed to be her squire. The building was sealed up and the windows had steel shutters in place. It looks like the lizardmen had tried to search the building or enter but gave up – most likely the bard’s doing.

Spell ended. Ok, we would love to meet up with this Ebbit, but right now did not know how. Spell was cast a 3rd time. Went to the place called the Sticks, woodcutter and carpenter area. Raw lumber and what not, 12 lizardmen at best in the area. Went to the Baily next, was told it was the tallest building in town. The Bailey College, bardic college. At the top in the belfry, above it, two lizardmen, watching the area. Below was a Razordon, large enough for 2 lizardmen to ride if need be. Went to look at both Knight Halls next. Looking at the stables would house at best 50 armed and armored riders. Right now, none here.

Town Hall was next, pretty close to the Cinder Vein Guild area, and 90 skinks were housing themselves here. Damn it – that’s a lot. Looked at the Cinder Vein Guild next. Fenced in. 9 buildings, 6 lizardmen on site. Crooked Field (open strip mine) was obvious. Mine cart tracks ran along the interior. He looking inside the guild hall proper, no one in there ,meeting rooms and the like and the spell ended.

We had 1 left and with day light still at our fingertips, Wilhelm cast again. We went north this time to the west and came up the millhouse and granary -both buring/burned. A few thousand days of grain. Lost. West east to the Cathedral of Odin, big building, grand. Lizardmen using is a stables for their mounts. A stegadon, razordon, and 3 long low flat looking 10 legged lizards. South then the Idun’s grove. The wards here were broken and he could look in. Druid’s circle despoiled, 3 low long carts here, and 20 lizardmen as well.

Went back to the Cinder Vein and tried to enter the building we thought had the mine in it, Furnace Hollow. But the image grew purple on trying to enter and Wilhelm grew agitated and tasted blood when pushing in. He relented and stopped. Must be the phazonire. Looked in one of the repair and maintenance buildings, then one of the barracks. Finally with the last minute, he swept out of the mine and went west as a few hundred feet up. Got lucky and came upon a watchtower, 50’ tall, 2 lizardmen on it. Spell ended.

We had a shit ton of information now and we discussed it at length. Wanted to enter the city, sneaking around would leave some trails in the distance, 9 of us cannot help but leave tracks, and the lizardmen might see them, invisible us or not. Ebbit was a thought but for now we’d come back to everything. Kept watch and slept.

Awoke the next day early on Firemonth the 12th and we ate and discussed going. We wanted one more round of scying so once more, Wilhelm called to Shakak and we all gathered around the water barrel again. Went back to the grange tower on the north end of town, sure enough, 2 lizardmen up there, a razordon at the base, and 4 other lizardmen down there.

We then went looking for a third tower, southeast section of town, and near the fields there, found it. Another grange tower, and 2 more lizardmen there, razordon at the bottom and 4 others there. In fact , that one would see us if we tried to come in by road. Went to look at the other mine again and it also had 6 lizardmen walking around. Then went to Cinder Vein and now we had 12 lizardmen here. Some arguing, 2 kroxigors. 2 lizardmen were outfitted with picks and ropes and entering (under duress), Furnace Hollow. A last look at the Bailey and the base – same – razordon and 4 lizardmen below.

Ok, we know that the longer we wait, the more chance the lizardmen would find the phazonire. So we wanted to head off and soon. Firemonth the 12th, 7:50 AM

Meet 160, Adv 17, 5/30/26

This would be the last of the 3 time adventures - Out of Time. The group has less than 3 months to find Sanctadragodon, kill the dragon form, release Dagon, and then fight the Lord of Nightmares - and finally seal the last rift with the Desmondian Diamond. It will test them from top to bottom, beginning to end. If at least 3 people don't die, It's because they've rolled nothing but wonderful dice all session.

As for what happens afterwards - its up to the group - it would be a perfect place to end the campaign and park these characters as having won. Or they can continue on in a strange new world that is both their home, and also not. Cart before the horse - we aren't there yet. Check back weekly and most likely February this campaign will come to the penultimate end.

Follows:

After returning to Bork Keep, we spent weeks training as well as selling, repairing, and purchasing equipment. Most of us learned new skills or at least honed existing ones. We ate, drank, smoked, and played. When we were idle, we followed the Steward’s command and made ourselves helpful and useful.

Captain Twilick drank heavy with us one night, speaking about his honor of ferrying us around the last 3 months , but the Kaiser’s commands are that only Battleships are allowed to fly south of the Enderlyn due to Sanctodragodon’s draconic support. When we were done here, we would return to Erylond and then part ways.

Shim had tried the Desmondian Diamond a few times, getting no readings. The feel between himself and the mages at the Keep were that if the gen does indeed sense gates, the fact that the existing one is in Dagon and in Sanctodragodon, we would have to be a lot closer to get a reading – 3 miles?

We left Bork Keep on the morning of the 5th, loaded up and on our way. It was 2 days of flying until we arrived at the Enderlyn River and the bridge to Erylond. We docked by 4:30 that afternoon and disembarked by quarter after 5. The Kaiser’s people me t with us and we were escorted through the city until eventually arriving at the Kaiser’s Castle in Center Ring.

The Council had been called and barring the time travel aspect, we explained what we had done over the last month and a half and what our next steps were going to be. The Council listened and then we talked. Any sky ship south of the river was a target for a dragon attack, so that was out. In fact, of the original 7 Battleships, they were down to 3 – and they were pretty beat up.

The evacuation was still heading apace. In 2 weeks or so Staz would be emptied, then 3 weeks more and Pax would be left unmanned. That would leave about 4 weeks to then empty Erylond itself and then a week and a half gap time before the river ritual fires off. The group that time to finish off the Dragodon.

As for his whereabouts, after the Chasmstorm spell about 3 months ago that swept every monster and nightmare creature out of the land, Sanctodragodon went to ground, hiding in a cave somewhere. No one knows where, his dragons continue to rule the skies. And the Starlitzian Lizardmen continue their raiding and approach ever northward. As the Kaiser says, “We are losing.”

The Council is not convinced. A group of what, 7, 8, 9 of you against the worst nightmare dragon ever? There are elven wizards capable of great magics but they would be killed instantly. Fighters who have tilted at the yards and engaged for years but are driven back. They want to believe, but are skeptical. The Kaiser feels different and we are not sure why. Yes he’s a Black Orc, yes he was there when we were picked up after the Chasmstorm, but he has always sided with us and given us what aid he could.

As for us, they are going to give us a 2 ton armored battlewagon and a team of 6 heavy draft horses to pull it. With enhanced shocks and Gorokian dwarven steel cladding, it should withstand most any attack. Rhygar was going to take point on the teamstering and spent the next few days learning to drive and handle it and the team. They gave us lances, food, and water as well. And a case of healing potions, 24 total.

We were ready to ride off on the 9th, and into the rainy cloud covered sky we drove off from Erylond and headed southwest towards the distant city of Pax. Eoghan was…unpleasant. We stretched a tarp for Rhygar to stay dry, and Darius was happy to be in the saddle, riding his war steed.

Pax was overloaded – city was normally about 25k, but 3 times that number was here. Refugees were swarming northward. There was nowhere in the city to stay so we set up camp outside and got a decent night’s rest after taking care of the animals.

Firemonth the 10th had us out and on the way in the morning, Wilhelm practicing animal forms and the weather once again giving Eoghan a serious case of hatred. We rode off to the east, the wide road filled with traffic heading to Pax from Staz, and no one but us going the other way. Families walking, ridings, dragging, all they can carry and hold. Absent stares, sad faces, worry. Hundreds of hundreds of people moving slowly away from the war to an uncertain future.

It was late when we arrived at Staz. The walls here were standing, the people were here, but the city was not as overstuffed at Pax was, a city of 25k, but only about 30k were here. The local constabulary looked over our wagon, got some of the stations armed forced to look it over, it was kicked up to the local prefect who arranged for us to have a room and wheelhouse use at a place called Thunderclap Hotel.

While here, the Prefect, a Lord Ginnias, asked us about our destination and plans going forward. We shared the Kaiser’s scrip with him and he understood that food and water would be available for us as need be from the king’s stores. He asked if we were heading east to Upperton or south to Miningboro and we didn’t have an exact answer. He asked us that if we were heading east, a Guildmaster who had been forced to flee Upperton about 2 weeks ago might have a request for us. We don’t have to take but to listen cost nothing and would generate good will between us and Lord Ginnias.

We rested and the next morn, Firemonth the 11th, at 7:30 Am, Lord Ginnais came and met with us for breakfast, bringing an orcish mining looking elder fellow with him. He introduced himself as Doggar Skullbeat, Guild master of the Cinder Vein Mining group in Upperton. They run a lucrative nickel mine on the east end of Upperton, employ about 80 people, and until recently, were suppling nickel rich iron ore for the Kaiser’s furnaces and forges.

The Starlitzian Lizardmen had been closing and sadly, they arrived at the town sooner than expected, and Doggar ordered his employees to flee. But they had not had a chance to activate the mine’s defenses, a clay golem who’s job would be to seal all the vault doors from inside the mine and seal the barriers until the command came to reopen. He wanted us to go there and activate the golem. In exchange, we were welcome to whatever was still in the vault.

We were not inclined at first to do it but the more we talked, the more we were swayed. In the main mine, Referred to as Furnace Hollow, they had come upon a number of phazonire deposits. These deep glowing purple hot stones were a danger to anyone who was around them for too long but in the hands of the Starlitzian Slaan Mage-priests, the volatile stone could be used to expand their dangerous magics in too many deadly ways. He had a bracer of command on him, linked to the golem, so when it was activated, he would know and be able to guide the golem from a distance as well as speak and hear through it. He would give us a 6 word cycle of command codes to wake up the golem and then it would seal up Furnace Hollow and keep the lizardmen out.

It was worth it, plus we’d have to go that way, plus we needed to engage with the lizardmen to see if we could get any information from them as to where Sanctodragodon was currently holed up. So, go to Upperton, scout of the place, find Cinder Vein Guild, infiltrate, get to Furnace Hollow mine, enter, find the golem, activate, seal mine, and get treasure from the vault.

Done. We were going to be ready to head out by 9 AM today.

2nd Campaign, A1, Session 5. 5/27/26

Birthmonth the 8th, 11:30 AM. We talked to Govaine, he escaped 9 year old slave boy, about the layout of the west side of the Temple of Grummsh. The way he got out. Where Karraway might be, and the portcullis. We felt pretty good about our chances and rested for the day. About 7 PM we are well and then after curfew had been called, about 8ish, he left the Temple of Uller and west went down Temple Way. We snuck behind the Temple at the top of the refuse trench and walked the length of it again.

At 8:30, we had come to the back of the Temple Grounds, stepped through the broken wall, and made it to the Temple of Gruumsh again. Once here, Sylas bundled our now 3 sets of rags into hobobundles to take out with us when we leave, Carl summoning some water to wash the ranger’s hands and gloves clear.

We followed the west side of the grounds along to the front and looked over from the woodcutter’s shed to the front door. Portcullis was down, couldn’t see the send set. Rhareli used his ring of invisibility and snuck over to the area to look in. 25’ x 25’ space between the bars, 2nd set was currently up about 5’. Could see a cart and some tables in the gloom of the courtyard. Orcish voices.

He snuck back and shared what we learned. We came up with a plan to loop rope between a few of the bars in 2 places and used a crowbar to twist the ropes, making the bars bend. Before we tried it though, we had Rhareli call to Garl to silence the area. Then Hrimvir and Rhareli worked the bars and ropes, bending them over and making a space big enough for us to sneak in.

Sylas snuck up to the 2nd set, braced a length of wood there in case the portcullis drops, and came back to share. 10 orcs, at least 2 more on either side of the entrance but hidden. We figured on Atlas firing off a sleep spell eventually but wanted Gun and Rhaerli to flip around the corners and take out the orc’s in the winch rooms – prevent the portcullis from being dropped on us. Then we run in.

9:05 both the gnome and halfling snuck around the corner and entered the winch rooms. Gun had 2 orcs in his, one with a sword pointing at the other, swearing that he is NOT his friend. Rhareli had a single orc wearing a chain shirt in his. Both snuck up and Gun struck the orc with the sword first. Wrist dagger pierced his neck and he went down dead. The other orc looked at Gun, thanked him, picked up the sword, and then shimmered – turning into Gun! Doppleganger! He started shouting. As for Rhareli, he lined up his backstab and hit – but the orc here was not some common orc, and was instead a skilled fighter. He rolled with the stab, and stood up, whipping his spear around, giving the gnome a solid stab in the thigh.

Battle on.

In the courtyard, the orcs nearest the tables dumped them over and propped up crossbows, shooting at Yandr and Hrimvir running towards the battle. The ones nearest the cart with the barrels on it started working a bellows on it while two other were untwisting hoses and ready to point them at the group.

Rhareli was outgunned and was calling for help. Yandr, Hrimvir, and Carl converged on the closest table, attacking the crossbow orc’s beyond. Sylas heard Gun’s calls and ran around the corner – seeing 2 guns! One had crossbow’ed the other and they were struggling now. Both were arguing that Sylas should kill the other when the ranger asked one “wait, you can understand me?” It replied of course and Sylas killed that one. “How’d you know that the right one?” the assassin asked. “Because it was able to understand my works through my heavy accent.” Gun looked at the ranger and frowned. “What, boy?”

As the pump orcs were about ready Atlas crumbled up some rose petals and let them fly, putting 1, 2, 3…and 4. All 4 orcs at the cart to sleep! Nice. The cart had some barrels attached to the mantlet made of brass and bronze. Pressure was running through, the smell of gas and oil was strong. Gun took a shot at the cart, hitting a barrel but nothing happened.

Cara got close enough to help out, hurling her enchanted spear and hitting where she could. The orcs near the front were down to 1 and Rhareli was about half hit points when Yandr finally cleared enough of the battle to enter the winch room and slide the gnome behind him. The paladin and the orcish fighter were evenly matched, trading strokes and blows in rapid succession.

Sylas could see Gun shooting at the barrels so joined it, the ranger firing at the pressurized barrels. And then finally, it happened. One of them punched through, raised sparks…and the entire pump cart exploded setting the courtyard there on fire and sending a plume of fire and smoke 30’ into the air, shaking the courtyard, and alerting everyone left that we were here.

The orc fighting Yandr gave him a shove backwards out of the winch room and slammed it closed. “No more fight with you!” it said with a growl. “Alright…we’ve done enough! Let’s go!” In the distance we could hear the night guards yelling fire and the clang of alarm bells were growing more numerous and louder.

We ran for the main gate, 47 minutes after we had originally entered the grounds, Sylas dragging the dead doppleganger behind him, Atlas urging him on. We hit the main road and ran eastward to the Temple of Uller, entered the gates, and then the main temple where Father Falder was surprised to see us again. So soon.

We wrapped up the body in some cloth and tied it closed, discussed what we did and what went wrong, and figured we’d lie low for the next 3 days for the Dragoons to eventually move on and the situation at the Temple of Grummsh to calm down.

As for the body, Sylas and Gun had done some investigating around town, eventually getting a line that someone at the Pig and Whistle might know an arcanist or an apothecist who could make use of the Doppleganger’s body. Then wandered there and spoke to Herin, one of the bar tenders there. Herin was a bit disturbed when it was mentioned they might actually have a body, but told them that at the est end of the Warehouse district, there is an import/export person named Heimo who would be best to talk to.

They left, took the body from behind the Pig and Whistle, covered it with a cloak and walked to the Warehouse area. Checking the signs they felt this was the right place and came up, asking a burly looking stevedore sitting outside the warehouse doors, whittling a piece of wood. Pleasantries were exchanged as Sylas was mentioning wanting to talk to Heimo and we had a body. The Whittler was stunned. You had a body. A dead body? Here? Who sent you here. They mentioned Herin and the Pig and Whistle and the Whittler was unhappy, suggesting they leave and leave now as most likely the Dragoons were coming soon.

Gun wanted the whittler’s name but he refused to give it. This got Gun mad. The Whittler then put down the wood he was whittling and took a new one, looking at Gun’s face intently before whittling the new piece. “What’s that?” The Whittler pointed to other figures and faces near him. “Whittling of people who used to bother me and don’t anymore.”

We refused to leave, he told us to leave the body and go, and Gun was getting more and more cross with the whittler. Eventually Heimo was gotten and they were told to get off the street now. Inside we met Heimo and Ilvi, his assistant who works as a gravedigger normally but also works here with Heimo regarding preservation and corpse shipment. They have a friend in Seaford who buys such “fruit” from them and offered the two 20 crowns for the Doppleganger. Gun was seriously asking what the Whittler’s name was.

While we were knee deep in this, a violent knocking was at the door. Captain Vauli of the Highport Dragoons was here to ask questions about the transport of a dead body. He was eventually let in but not until Heimo had the doppleganger’s body brought to a secret coffin/crate with a drop away bottom and placed within. Captain Vauli and 6 Dragoons were here and the conversation did not go very well.

We have a ghast problem in town and Ilvi is slumming here, go to the cemetery now. Who the fuck are you two? Mr Smith and Mr Jones. Did you have a body? NO. Yes. It was a deer. I’m a hunter. Sure enough they pointed to a deer corpse in here and everyone agreed that was what was being transported through town. Heimo then took out 200 crowns and gave it to Sylas as payment for the “deer”. Unable to argue over the shortfall cost of the doppleganger, we took it. The Csaptain was not believing us. 200 crowns for a deer carcass? Where you staying?

At a hotel. Where? In the middle of town. Does this hotel have a name? I’m sure it does, I cannot read. Really? Fine, let’s go to this “hotel” and I want to talk to the proprietor that you are actually staying there. As we were leaving Captain Vauli was pissed off, we have a ghast issue and some dump fuck is moving corpses or killing people in town. Gun said that he knows some people who could help with the ghast issue, and the Captain offered to go with Gun afterwards to talk to whoever he has.

We came to the Two Seasons Hotel near town square and Sylas was like, oh yes, this is the place. Really? Let’s go in. They entered and Captain Vauli went to the desk clerk and talked to him about Sylas, pointing to him, Is this guy staying here?  Behind the Captain’s back, Sylas lifted the bag of gold he had gotten from Heimo and made a begging face, showing some of the coin. The Desk clerk didn’t hesitate and backed up Sylas’ story. We left the ranger here (who overpaid for a room here to keep the desk clerk from alerting the Dragoons) and went with Gun back to the Temple of Uller.

He introduced the Captain to everyone, said he was Mr. Jones, said nothing about missing Sylas, and we listened to Vauli’s pitch about hunting the Ghasts. We agreed to go with them, he has an undead hunting ranger on staff and we agreed to go with them to find the lair. First 2 days were a loss, but we did find a ghast lair near the east end of town by the granary. The ranger doused it with holy water and they were setting up a new lair that would be attractive to ghasts elsewhere but lined with traps and falls to help catch and kill it.

Meanwhile Gun was spending 3 days following the Whittler, who he learned was named Sminki. His comings, goings, and patterns. Finally on the evening of the 12th as the Whittler was passing a dark alley on his way home, Gun lunged out and stabbed – hitting hard – but failing to assassinate him! The Whittler began yelling for guards and running away and Gun faded into the background, eventually making his way to the Temple. “Some other time, then,” he muttered.

By this point it was Birthmonth the 13th. As for the Temple of Gruumsh, an orcish paramilitary group run by a Karraway had been illegally squatting on the temple grounds and were arrested, eventually sent off to do hard labor at the zinc mines north of town. There was no other issues and eventually the Dragoons put a new chain and lock on the gate, reminding the populace that the Temple was off limits and to not enter the grounds again.

We were going to sneak back in tonight.