Hell Breakers' campaign

[Paul]

Players

Grimnir Farseer (Will Keary) - A cleric of Odin who retains a connection to his God in a time where all traces of divinity seem to have disappeared. He remembers little to nothing of his past.

Aedon Kilcannon (Greg Castanon) - A paladin of Heimdall who found Grimnir trussed and hanging from a tree in the Norselands.

Uriel Sheridan Augustus (Jon Small) - A soldier of the kingdom of Palantyne who has recently been honorably discharged.

Aelred Reynolds (Alex Jackson) - A ranger who originally hailed from Palantyne but spent time in the elven lands after tracking an undead creature which had killed his family.

Rhoen Llewellyn (Jonn Smith) - An elven tinkerer and specialist in magic item creation.

NPC Followers

Pint - A goblin from Crystal springs whom Aedon has been rehabilitating. He thinks of himself as a squire to Aedon.

Percival - An alchemist who was sentenced to not less than a year of servitude to Llewellyn as punishment for his aid to the goblins attacking Crystal Springs.

Delilah - A human sorceress from Aktenor who Aedon is attempting to reform. She is mostly interested in coming along for any money she can get out of it.

Gaknar - A half-orc barbarian with his rhinoceros mount who had been accompanying the group since Grimnir raised him from the dead.

Previous PC's and recurring NPCs

Koje (Adam Katz) - A gnome sorcerer and self proclaimed priest of Erevan Ilesere.

Olvan Ramnaheim (Jack Ferris) - A dwarven miner who specialized in squeezing into places most dwarves don't fit. He served with Uriel on his last mission.

Caelan - A half-elven weapon trader who lost her soul when being held as a hostage against the group. Eventually she was rescued from Hell. She works with "Tim" in one of Orphen's shops at the remains of Palantyne.

Tim - A grey elven wizard merchant. Actually a simulacra of the adventurer: Orphen Pendragon.

Prince Parthos Galverth - Crown prince of the kingdom of Palantyne.

King Thadius Galverth - King of the Kingdom of Palantyne

Lord Mage Derek Ranel - Leader of the Spellswords and head of arcane military affairs in Palantyne.

Desin Trelaway - Spellsword occult slayer

Arden Moss - Current chancellor of Redwall academy in the elven capital.

Auron Adelnis - Air genasi enchanter and caretaker to the temple of time.

Threvari - Copper dragon familiar and companion to Auron.

[Paul]

Preludes, Winter '07

"Faith in the Frozen North"

It was the opinion of most of Aedon's countrymen that Ragnarok was upon them. The gods seemed to have disappeared completely in the last decade and giants walked the land in greater numbers than had ever been known. As he traveled south in search of the town of ___ he found quite a strange site. There was a man trussed up and dangling from a tree with his belongings sitting below him who upon being cut down revealed he could remember nothing more than fragments of his past. He did however remember his calling as a priest of Odin and soon the pair found he seemed to miraculously still have spell-casting ability and was thus nicknamed Grimnir by Aedon.

Together the pair continued to the town of ___ where they were heartily welcomed. In a time of constant raids, more warriors within the confines of the town were always welcomed. They drank and made merry for the rest of the evening but during the night Grimnir had a terrible vision. He saw a white-skinned man followed by a huge creature made of ice traveling through a valley and up into the village where the ice creature then slaughtered every last soul living there. Immediately upon waking he went to Aedon who accompanied him to the village elder, ____. After speaking with him the gathered whomever was willing (a dwarven lumberjack named ___, an elven horse trader named ___, a merchant named __, a skald named ___, and the elder himself) and quickly traveled down to the valley to ambush the man and his monster. They stood on the cliff sides and observed the pair approach before raining rocks and arrows down upon them. ___ climbed down the cliff side to attack the man leading what Grimnir recognized as an ice elemental when he was confirmed to be a cleric of the winter god ___ but was killed in the attempt. His companions valiantly attempted to save him but in their failure were able to finish off the cleric himself and destroy the amulet with which he had bound the elemental. Upon returning to the village, the elder told Grimnir and Aedon they would always be welcome as they prepared to continue their journey southward.

Meanwhile...

"Days of undead"

Uriel had been sent to the far southwest reaches of the kingdom of Palantyne as part of a mission to retake a fort. Things started out looking like there would be no problems as the fort was easily cleared out and the civilians who were now living there were happy enough, at least until undead started appearing in the south. It started out as nothing they couldn't handle but rapidly got worse and worse until they had to send for reinforcements. Still, it seemed they would be able to hold out. But the reinforcements never came and so captain ___ began to ponder escape plans. He started out by having Olvan and Uri search out the passages beneath the fort for a way to get the civilians out. While they searched out the passages captain ___ spoke with the man who seemed to be controlling the hoard that seemed to be amassing around them, claiming to wish to discuss terms for surrender but really just trying to buy more time. On the day of the proposed "surrender", the troops led the civilians through the tunnels that Uri and Olvan had cleared out to safety. The only casualty seemed to be on captain ___ himself who disappeared, falling into a fissure while covering their escape.

Meanwhile...

"Bad natured Pranks"

Upon arriving in the town of ___, Aelred and Koje (a gnome) learned spent some time resting and speaking with the different town folk. (Alex) spent time attempting to learn of any recent undead menaces, while Koje spent his time proselytizing, only to find himself sternly rebuked. When they finally met each other in he tavern that evening, their restful day came to an end. Many of the patrons including themselves began to violently hallucinate while others became ill. It seemed they had been poisoned. Listening carefully they and several other patrons were able to hear laughter coming out of nowhere and were able to reveal the mischievous mites which were the cause of the problem. ___, a druid, recognized the mushrooms which had been used to cause the hallucinations and upon gathering several other patrons of the bar, the group went to the mushroom grove to investigate. There they found more mites which fled through the rift they had arrived through. Koje and Aelred soon continued traveling southward together after returning to the village.

[Paul]

Session 1: March 2, '07 "Arriving at Crystal Springs"

Aedon and Grimnir arrived together at the town of Crystal springs after weeks of travel down from the mountains. There they learned of nearby springs dedicated to Grannos and Sirona, gods of healing which supposedly had the power to heal all ills. Meanwhile Koje and Aelred upon arriving spent their time at the local tavern (Grannos' rest) and looking for any information about recent undead threats respectively. Entering from the eastern entrance to the town, Uriel went straight to the tavern looking for a place to rest and coming from the north an elf named Llewellyn entered the town also heading to the tavern after walking around the town square. Aedon and Grimnir spoke with an half-elven weapon merchant named Caelan who offered to meet them at the tavern in the evening and guide them to the spring. Llewellyn spoke with the town's mayor while Aelred and Koje shared drinks and told tales. Eventually they also heard of the springs and the mayor offered to bring them to see them as apparently it was a very popular evening activity. Uriel however showed no interest and stayed at the bar, speaking with the patrons.

Upon arriving at the springs the travelers found several hot-spring pools bubbling up out of the ground and a spring of fresh clean drinking water nearby. After spending the next hour enjoying the springs with Caelan, many of the townsfolk had left. As Aedon, Grimnir and the others were preparing to leave a man suddenly ran out from a nearby copse of trees with an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. "They're coming..." he muttered before falling to the ground as two wolf riding goblins charged out of the trees behind him. Caelan grabbed a dagger as Aedon snatched up his maul and knocked a goblin off of its wolf. Grimnir healed the fallen scout as Aelred fired arrows at the wolves, Llewellyn animated his sword and Koje cast a defensive spell. Soon the wolves and one goblin was dead with the other captured. A similar scene unfolded at Grannos' Rest as Uriel defended the bar's patrons from two goblin which had chased another scout to the town. Upon reconvening at the town, speaking to the surviving scout and interrogating the living goblin, the group learned that these goblins were scouts for a much larger force that was just over three days out and was heading straight for the town. Uriel and Llewellyn stated they would help bolster the towns defenses and protect the town while Aedon said he would go to the nearby valley-men, centaurs, elves, and river folk to entreat them to help defend it. He would bring the one surviving goblin (which he had nicknamed Pint) as proof of the impending danger. Aelred and Grimnir said they would go with him and the trio would leave at dawn.

Session 2: March 3-4, '07 "Collecting Allies"

Aedon, Grimnir, Aelred, and "Pint" left to the west toward the home of the valley-men at first light with Caelan as a guide and by midday they arrived at the cliffs which marked their destination. They could see the squat stone buildings built into the valley floor and began their decent with Aedon going first. Unfortunately the climb turned out to not be as simple as it had at first appeared. Upon reaching the halfway point of the climb Aedon was attacked by a group of stirges (giant demon mosquitoes) that swarmed out of the walls with Aelred and Grimnir providing cover fire he was able to fight off the swarm while hanging fifty feet in the air. The rest of the group followed him soon after, being careful not to attract any more of the vermin.

When they reached the bottom of the cliff they immediately found spears leveled at them by the guards who had been hiding at the foot of the cliff although Grimnir and Aedon were able to convince them of their good intentions with some quick words and the group was brought to speak to their tribal elder. While reticent to risk his tribe's lives for those living in Crystal Springs as the valley warriors might be needed there the elder and chief huntsman were soon convinced to help, partially through Aedon's words and partially through a demonstration of Aelred's skill throwing spears. They were then shown a hidden way out from the valley which would avoid another encounter with the stirges.

The group then hurried northwest looking for the centaurs encampment but around dusk, rather than finding centaurs, they found Uriel, who had rode out to meet them but was being attacked by a group of wolves including one the size of a horse. Aelred was able to calm one of the wolves down while Aedon, Grimnir, and Uri finished off the others but not before Uri's horse was badly injured. They continued to travel for another hour and were preparing to give up their search for the night when three centaurs stepped out of a copse of tree with bows aimed at them. The group once again claimed to have come looking for allies and offered the corpses of wolves that were behind them as proof along with the presence of Pint. Two of the centaurs brought them into their camp while the third followed their trail back toward the corpses of the wolves to corroborate their story. Unfortunately even after seeing the proof and listening to Grimnir and Aedon, the centaurs were still not willing to help the humans whom they felt had always slighted them in the past. Uriel was able to turn the tides however when he seeing several centaurs participating in a contest to wrestle each other to the ground offered to join for a round and not only was he able to hold his own, he actually wrestled his giant opponent flat. Upon seeing this, the rest of the centaurs were impressed enough that they grudgingly were willing to acquiesce to lend aide.

The next morning the group left the centaurs' camp, once again on their quest for aide, this time looking for the nomadic elves which the centaurs had told them of their last known location. While it took much of they day to find them, even with knowledge of their recent whereabouts the elves were thankfully the easiest group to convince. While some were reticent, many were more than eager to help kill goblins if there really were any threatening the area and so a large group headed off to Crystal Springs led by Caelan as Aedon and Uriel led their companions to the river-folk.

Session 3: March 4-5, '07 "Another Attack"

Upon arriving at the river-folk's barges the group found them under attack by water elementals and a large number of crocodiles. Immediately they charged toward any opponents near the shore while Koje (coming himself from Crystal Springs to asked for aid) cast spells from the far shore. Soon the menace was driven off and once again the group asked for aid. The river-folk showed a want to help but had just lost so much in the current attack (including the water elemental that usually helped to defend them) that they seemed to feel there was nothing they could do. They said they would make a decision by morning and the group camped on the shore for the night. During the night however, the group itself was attacked by more crocodiles and a man who was recognized as having been the largest naysayer from the night before. After driving off the crocodiles and examining him more closely Koje recognized that he was not a man at all but a goblin cloaked by illusion to look like one of the river-folk. Upon being shown this, the river-folk were immediately more willing to help seeing that they had had an enemy in their midst and upon re-summoning their water elemental to defend those left behind, left for Crystal Springs the next morning.

Session 4: March 5-7, '07 "The Battle at Crystal Springs"

Upon arriving back at Crystal Springs, Llewellyn and Uriel finished the defenses which Uriel had started several days before and Llewellyn and overseen in his absence, including a ditch, extra walls, and caltrops. They had one day more than they had expected before seeing the goblin army in the distance and the towns folk and its allies felt well prepared and supremely confident until they say that with the goblins were a contingent of ogres. The army started by testing the towns defenses by sending a group of wolf riding goblins to attack the main entrance but they were easily cut down. The next wave was considerably harsher as the army waited until night fell so that they would have an advantage and sent their ogres to attack the walls themselves before calling them back. While they were able to break down some of the sections of wall only one of the twelve ogres made it back to the army thanks to Aedon, Uriel, Aelred, Llewellyn, Koje, and Grimnir. During the confusion however a small group of goblins sneaked in and attempted to kill Grimnir, having realized the town somehow had a cleric defending it, but were once again quickly dispatched. Finally the army threw everything it had at them in an attempt to overwhelm them before the breaches in the walls could be filled, waves of goblins, wolves and worgs attacked along with the few remaining ogres. Aedon and Aelred defended against the worgs as best they could while Uriel and Grimnir attacked the last ogre and the goblin wizard supporting it. Koje and Llewellyn cast spells from the rooftops to aid their allies and hinder their opponents. As dawn came, the town saw the last remnants of the army fleeing into the distance and let out a cheer. However as the day passed the group learned that a dozen or so villagers had been captured in the night including their friend, Caelan. Upon hearing this, Aedon, Grimnir, Uriel, Aelred, and Koje immediately decided to go after them in a rescue attempt at daybreak.

[Paul]

Session 5: March 8-9, '07 "The Rescue Begins"

As the group prepared to leave Crystal Springs to rescue the prisoners they were presented with several gifts from the those who had been living in the town and the surrounding area which they graciously accepted. Then, in an attempt to beat as many of the fleeing goblins back to the fort that Pint had claimed they came from, Aedon led the group down to the river where he asked the river-folk to lend them aid and bring them as far south as they could as quickly as possible. They were happy to do in thanks for everything that had happened in the previous days and carried the group on several rafts as far south as the swamp that they planned to cut through. After Aelred led them through the swamp for several hours, they came to an area where boards had been lined up which they could walk on rather than wading through the muck. After a short time on the boards they could see a ramshackle hut twenty or so feet away and a voice called to them from the swamp asking who they were and what they were doing in its swamp. It called itself ___ and demanded some sort of tribute from them for being in its swamp. Finally ___ ceased to bother them when Aedon offered it meat on their return.

The group continued for a few more hours until just as the sun began to rise they caught sight of the fort they were looking for. It was built into the cliff side and after a short discussion it was decided they would rest for a few hours before trying to sneak in. They decided that the cave exit which seemed to be part of a makeshift sewer would be their best way in rather than attempting a frontal assault or climbing the cliff side. While the rest of the group recuperated Aelred spent some time searching out the cave but was attacked by a massive snake after getting relatively deep into the cave system. He fled and returned to the group deciding that it was too dangerous for a single individual.

Uriel was able to describe the path they should take assuming that the caves were meant to function as a sewer system and after fighting their way past two otyughs (tentacle sewer monsters), they found an opening into the fortress. Once inside the group was able to find where some but not all of the prisoners were being kept and also found some empty barracks, an empty store room, and a map room which showed the area around Crystal Springs. One level up they found another room with several murals, one with a pit fiend strangling a balor and taking its whip, another with the same fiend killing a solar and taking its sword, and the last with it standing triumphantly. Aedon destroyed the alter in that room and the bearded devil guarding it. In another room the group found several goblins casters studying who attempted to ambush them but were quickly defeated. A third room had a hired alchemist named Percival who immediately surrendered and was brought by the group down to the prison level where he was tied up to wait for them. The last room they found was completely empty except for a dark black mahogany box sitting on a dais. Aedon felt nauseous just looking into the room.

Session 6: March 9, '07 "The Choice"

After a short discussion the group took and hid the box in the prison before continuing exploring. Aelred scouted ahead but did not notice a pressure plate on the floor as he did so which opened a hidden doorway and released a gelatinous cube. As the group prepared a defense huge man carrying a maul stepped into their way at the other end of the passage blocking their escape.He attempted to push Aedon into the cube but was put to sleep by one of Aelred's sleep arrows. Uriel urged his allies to simply retreat as the cube could not keep up with them. However, he charged forward when Koje attempted to use his laughing touch on the cube but was paralyzed and enveloped. Fortunately, Aedon was able to pull him free and together the group was able to defeat it.

Further on Aelred (disguised as a goblin) found a large group of goblins with several wargs in a temple area. He returned to his allies and they prepared an ambush for their unlucky opponents. While most of the goblins were quickly slain, they did survive long enough to release a pair of hell-hounds which severely injured Uriel. After clearing out the temple area and interrogating the goblins' leader, the group continued on to the upper levels which they found were mostly abandoned. Heading toward the front gates they spied from one of the guard towers the rest of the captured villagers, several of whom were being dragged to the cage of a huge ogre. Aedon and Uriel dropped out of the tower with Llewellyn casting feather fall on them. Aelred fired arrows at the goblins on the wall while Grimnir and Koje ran toward the now fleeing villagers. The mutant ogre charged toward Aedon and Uri as Llewellyn cast a spell to weaken it. The pair nimbly dodged around the monster as it swung at them with a tree trunk. Aedon took out a knee as Uri hacked at it with his sword finally slaying it as Grimnir and Koje finished off the last of the goblins.

It seemed that the fort had finally been cleared out and the group gathered together all of the prisoners but were still unable to find Caelan. As they prepared to leave however a man stepped out into the open dragging her along and holding a dagger to her throat. "Give me the Box or I cut her throat and send her straight to hell" he stated. Grimnir refused saying he did not care about her while Aedon offered himself in trade. Llewellyn confirmed that the man's statement was true. As Aedon retrieved The Box, the group briefly conferred with Aelred being the only one to think they should give it up. In the end Aedon and Uri charged toward the main (then identified as Calth) in vain as Caelan dropped to the ground, her soul drawn into the dagger. Dejected the group gathered together the rest of the prisoners only to see the remainder of the goblin army running toward them but for their first good news in a long time they were being chased. Centaurs and valley men were in hot pursuit. "Quick! Back to the walls!" Aedon said. "At least we can finish off this menace!"

Session 7: March 9-18, '07 "More Gators"

The group fled back to the walls where Aedon armed the villagers who were with them. Aelred fired arrows at the goblins which were running toward the gates while Uriel had Llewellyn enlarge him and knocked down any goblins attempting to climb the walls. Grimnir used his pole arms to attack through murder holes and between those defending the calls and the centaurs and valley men the goblins were finished off with only one casualty. Aedon did not wish his sacrifice to be forgotten and told an epic tale of his valor defending the walls, stating that forever after the fort would be called "Fort Farley" after the man who escaped its prison and killed one hundred goblins defending the walls.

After resting the night the group sent the prisoners and their horses with the centaurs and the valley-folk as they traveled back through the swamp, planning on meeting them on the other side. As they approached his hut, ___ once again called out to them from the swamp saying he had received a better offer and would only let them go if they gave him the box in their possession. When they refused he attacked, along with a shambling mound, several crocodiles and a small group of summoned lemures before revealing himself to in fact be a shape-shifting crocodile. While Uriel was badly injured the group was still able to finish off their opponents and make it to the other side of the swamp. There they waited for the centaurs and valley-folk, whom they accompanied the rest of the way back to Crystal Springs. They rested for a short time there before requesting the town-folk watch over the body of Caelan while they attempted to save her soul and soon were off to the Barony of Kilkenny, hoping to find a place where they could do some research on the soul itself and the dagger that took it.

[Paul]

Session 8: March 19, '07 "The Barony of Kilkenny"

Arriving in the Barony of Kilkenny the group found a bustling lakeside town, with a fine market square and a road leading to the Baron's manor. Interestingly, though they found churches, they seemed to be mostly deserted. After procuring lodgings for themselves at "The Slipshod Inn" the group headed into the market place where they sold some of their less desired equipment and had a suit of plate-mail commissioned by Sering the fire genasi blacksmith. Soon after they headed to the mages' guild where they inquired about the soul stealing dagger in their possession and investigated the abandoned quarters of Edwin, the towers former specialist who seemed to have lost his mind.

After finishing their business at the guild the group went to see Baron Nicolas Cassel to announce their presence and explain the recent happenings at Crystal Springs and the fort south of the springs. While there, Percival begged asylum of the baron who after listening to both sides of the story decided him to be as corrupt as Aedon had assumed and declared his punishment to be to work as an assistant to the group for no less than the next year. He also grudgingly created an official pardon for Pint in thanks for everything that had been done to the south.

While at the baron's mansion the group also learned of the his son Kilroy who had been acting very strange as of late. His attitude was completely different than it had ever been before and he had called off his upcoming wedding just as his betrothed had returned from the north, claiming to have found his "true love". Koje returned to the mages' guild and questioned Morgan, the slighted bride to be and Aelred spoke with a fisherman at the docks named Orrin who had been friends with Kilroy before following the young man down to the lakeside. There they found him speaking with a beautiful woman who had him attack the group claiming they intended her harm upon their intrusion before diving into the water. She also had two elemental join his attack before swimming off to a cave on the eastern bank. Fortunately Grimnir was able to paralyze Kilroy before he could cause any real damage while Aedon, Uriel, Aelred, Koje, and Llewellyn finished off the elementals. He also realized the woman's true form just as she was escaping to actually be that of a horrible hag rather than a beautiful maiden.

Session 9: March 19, '07 "Whats that smell?"

The group began by carrying Kilroy back the the mages' guild for safe keeping before heading after the hag. Aedon led the group back to the docks where they had recently met a fisherman named Orrin who had been friends with Kilroy and the group asked the x-paladin if he would give them a ride out to the cave on his skiff. He waited outside as the group waded into the cave. Just inside the main entrance they found what seemed to be the hag's pet and first line of defense, a four headed hydra! Aedon poked ahead of them with a pole and found a large drop off hidden by an illusion. As the group continued to examine the trap they found at the bottom resided a group of ghouls waiting to attack as they swam past. Fortunately Uriel was able to create a bottle neck with a magic token which summoned a tree and the ghouls were easily finished off.

Further into the cave Koje sent a magical ball of light ahead of the group to guide them. While this allowed them to avoid a corridor full of piercers it unfortunately alerted a group of troglodytes to their presence allowing an ambush. Aedon and Grimnir captured one of the leaders and offered it its freedom if it would lead them to the hag. Terrified for its life, the creature led them past "the living mushrooms" and "the devouring pool" to the end of the cavern. There they found a woman sitting on a rock crying in the center of a large pool. She said she had been kidnapped and suspiciously claimed her name to be Caelan. Uriel saw through the illusion and guided by Aedon threw a thunder-stone at the submerged hag. It began by attacking Aedon and Uriel as Aelred fired arrows at it before retreating to the rock in the center of the pool to cast spells but was soon finished off by Llewellyn and Koje.

Session 10: March 20-31, '07 "Shadows and research"

After returning to the mages' guild and guaranteeing that Kilroy was actually free of all forms of enchantment, the group returned to Orrin once again, this time asking to be brought to the tower of the Paranoid Edwin. An expert in summoning and extra-planar magic who had left the guild after fits of paranoia and claims that things were coming to get him. Orrin agreed to wait at the shore of the swamp for them as they trudged toward the nearby tower. As they approached however, a huge grizzly bear tore out of the underbrush, trampling toward the group before veering toward Aedon who recognized it to have some sort of demonic aura. Uriel and Aedon knocked it down while Grimnir and Aelred healed and calmed it. Continuing to the tower the group walked along a path flanked by hideous gargoyles until Grimnir pointed out that the last two were facing toward the tower rather than away from it like the rest. Uriel and Aedon spoke to the creatures which seemed unwilling to attack without the element of surprise.

At the tower itself, Koje and Llewellyn detected auras of abjuration on the tower walls and door. Llewellyn cast a knock spell to unbar the main doorway and led the way to explore the main foyer. Once inside, Grimnir explained that the gargoyles were likely there to keep someone in rather than them out. Climbing the tower the group was attacked first by shadow conjurations in the foyer, then by shadow mastiffs guarding the library, and then by a group of ghostly shadows in the apprentice chambers. Finally arriving at Edwin's own chambers they heard a scream of terror and as Uri kicked in the door the group found a terrified Edwin shrinking away from a massive shadow demon. Aedon charged forward shouting Heimdal's name as Uriel and Aelred attacked nearby shadows. Llewellyn cast a touch of idiocy spell to weaken the demon as it created a fireball out of shadow-stuff. Koje fired tiny orbs of acid as Grimnir summoned a spiritual spear to attack the demon itself. Finally slaying it with a mighty blow.

After some convincing Edwin agreed to return to the guild in Kilkenny with the group and traded his amulet to Grimnir (as he had recognized it to be the source of the shadow demon) for some ancient scrolls. Aedon promptly smashed it and together with Edwin's help the group began researching the historical texts they had found in the goblin fortress and the properties of the soul sucking dagger. While little information about the dagger itself was revealed, they did find a makers mark from the city of Palantyne and found a good deal of information regarding the texts they carried.

Session 11-12: April 1-7, '07 "Jon's 2 Sessions"

Theater, free tickets. Haunted Theater. Hired on to find haunting. Met desert man. man from acting troupe disappeared. Secret passage. 4 Man ambush. Archer ambush. Shadow dancer guarding kidnapped man

Llewellyn hired on to take actor's place who refused to work under those conditions. Night or performance. Attack by big turtle demon thing. Its all part of the show.

[Paul]

Session 13: April 8-12, '07 "Traveling northeast"

While traveling toward Palantyne to find more information on the box and dagger the group was attacked by bearded devil and lemures despite traveling across country to make themselves harder to find. Later in the same day they were attacked again, this time by 4 hell hounds. Lastly as they were camping they one once more attacked by a man who was entirely composed of insects. He had a letter of bounty against them which asked for only the box they carried and its contents but said nothing of how the "man" had managed to find them. A day later as they continued they were also approached by a young man named Lucas who claimed to have heard of them and wanted their help at his village to nearby which he led them to after they suspiciously agreed to help.

Session 14: April 13-14, '07 "Town Name"

Upon arriving at ____, the group found that there were many people who were recently dead. They also were told of some huge creature smashing through tree canopies and taking villagers although noone had ever caught a good look at it without being taken away. Furthermore people claimed the ground in graveyard was eating people. Aedon gave two children a proper burial who were originally being hastily buried out of fear of more people being devoured to the thanks of a grateful family. The next morning Grim tried to consecrate the graveyard but in the process the group was immediately attacked by necromentals (negative energy empowered masses of earth and gravestones) which seemed to have been the cause of the ground devouring those who treat on it. However, despite their power, with the ground consecrated the monsters were quickly destroyed.

Uriel ad Koje spoke with many of the townsfolk and three lumberjacks about the attacks and the lumberjacks agreed to lead them to the most recent site of a recent attack. When the hour to leave arrived however, one of them sneaked away. When the group arrived at the place where the lumberjacks had lost one of their friends they were almost immediately attacked by a vrock (a huge demon bird) but that seemed to have been nothing more than a distraction for the cleric of Grim who ambushed them immediately thereafter with the help of the lumberjack who had sneaked away. The pair was quickly defeated but not before the cleric was able to curse Uriel, although the effect remained to be seen.

Session 15: April 14-16, '07 "Return of Calth"

After returning to the town and resting for the night the group went to the home of the traitorous lumberjack who had attacked them the night before looking for clues. There they found the burnt remains of a letter which Grim was able to restore with a spell mentioning a third less willing conspirator which the group decided it would have to watch out for. They also found a map of the hills to the northwest of the town with an area circled and decided that would be the best place for them to continue their investigation. On their way through the hills the group was attacked by several undead lions and a large group of skeletons but what they found when they arrived was even worse. Their was a huge roc which had once been dead but was now animated, apparently the thing that had been carrying away villagers. Aelred grabbed a bow from the corpse of one of its previous victims and fired arrows at the monster as it scooped up Uriel who managed to wriggle free of its grasp and climb onto its back. From their he used his ring of the ram which he had borrowed from Koje to drive it to the ground where the rest of the group fought its undead offspring. Soon they were able to finish it off and traveled back to the village (bringing with them the one remaining roc egg) where after reporting what they had done a feast was prepared in their honor.

As the night passed many of the other townsfolk left to their homes leaving Lucas alone with the group. However, just as the group itself was preparing to go to their beds themselves Lucas muttered something of an apology to Aedon before stabbing him though even with the element of surprise he was quickly subdued. Upon regaining consciousness he explained that his family had been taken hostage by a man named Calth and would be killed if he could not kill Aedon and bring the box he had been carrying to the man. Thinking about this Aedon had himself loosely tied while Llewellyn turned the rest of the group invisible. He then had Lucas bring him to Calth as "proof" that he had been successful. Upon arriving they found Calth (the cleric of Tiamat they had previously encountered) with two lizard men and despite a battering he gave Aedon while he believed the paladin to be tied up the group were able to ambush and kill him once Lucas's family was released.

The next day Lucas apologized profusely for everything that had happened thanking everyone for all they had done and saying that if there were ever anything he could do for them they had but to name it. As they were leaving however, Grim noticed that Uriel looked haggard. His face had lines that had not been there before and his hair had started to gray. The curse had revealed itself as Uriel was aging at a massive rate! Grim however had a plan to attempt to remove it and began a ritual hanging Uriel from a tree and having him fast to remove the affliction. As each member went to sleep for the night (and Uriel lost consciousness) they awoke in front of a massive tree fully clothed and armored.

Session 16: April 16 - July 1, '07 "Grimnir's Dreamworld"

Awaking in front of what Grimnir claimed was the world tree the group found a set of runes carved into a tablet. Upon deciphering them a huge passageway opened a the base of the tree. It let them past a large bird which followed Aelred around and to a pair of dwarves which attempted swindling them before attacking. As this happened, a small group of charged down from an adjoining path and after helping defeat the dwarves, explained they had come to help Uriel. Further on the group defeated an ettin, a troll, and a large group of undead norse-men before arriving at the keep that seemed to be their destination. There they found the seemingly living remains of the priest that had cursed Uriel accompanied by two hill giants. Uriel charged forward dodging past the giants' clubs and attacked the priest as his companions attacked the giants. Llewellyn blinded one of the giants and Grimnir cast a silence spell to keep Uriel and the priest's duel purely martial. As Uriel dealt the final blow, killing the priest a second time the world melted away and the group awoke. As they did so they realized they were not where they had gone to sleep but were instead in a huge field in front of the capital city of Palantyne in what seemed to be mid summer.

[Paul]

Session 17: July 1-2, '07 "Under the Statler"

Arriving in Palantyne, Uriel brought the group to an inn called the Statler, where he was apparently well known before taking leave of the group to report to his superiors. The group was invited to a party that was being hosted their that evening before leaving to deal with other matters in the city. Aedon went to the city's magesterium to see what he could find out about the soul stealing dagger and the mysterious black box he carried with him. There he was brought to a plannar expert. Upon opening the box they found hidden within in a huge still beating heart. There was some speculation as to what it was but it was decided that Aedon would not be allowed to walk through the streets carrying it as it was too dangerous while Aedon refused to leave it behind. Eventually, after the Lord Mage Derek Ranel was summoned A compromise was reached and Aedon was lent an item that would allow him to magically watch over the box from anywhere in the city and a pair of boots that would allow him to return to it at a moments notice.

Returning to the Statler, the group prepared for its party where Pint was ostracized and feared. However, Pint was not the real worry as halfway through the party the floor collapsed and several guests were injured. While helping the guests climb to freedom the group heard the sounds of fighting through an uncovered doorway and hurried toward the noise. There they found a group pf spectral dwarves fighting a large number of trolls which were quickly put down. The dwarves apparently did not realize they were dead but upon being informed did request the group return their emblems to their homes. Continuing through the unearthed tunnels, the group found an animated smithy before coming into a large room with a chanting wizard upon a balcony. He had a group of huge minotaur and troll guards blocking anyone's ability to get to him and made things even more difficult with a solid fog spell. After a drawn out battle and the death of his minotaur and troll creations he fled, leaving the group to investigate his laboratory and home.

Session 19-20: July 3-5, '07 "The Trial"

After searching through the wizards lab it was found that he had been magically creating and altering monsters and had plans for the destruction of the city. They also found a connection to another person in the city. When he was found it seemed he was being arrested for murder. He agreed to help in exchange for help clearing his name as while he had committed many crimes, he had never killed someone. While following one of his leads the group spotted a flaming building and rushed inside to save as many citizens as they could. Aedon and Pint afterward searched the warehouse district for clues regarding the escaped wizard while the rest of the group went to the trial. There they found shadows had been hiding in the framed man's body and were able to destroy them before any escaped the courtroom.

After leaving the courtroom the framed man used a locate object spell to help the group find the wizard they had been searching for and they found Pint and Aedon outside the same building. Upon entering they found many more mutated giant trolls which Aedon slew as they remained in stasis. Moments later the man they were looking for returned. Seeing the group, he monologued for a short time before fleeing with a dimension door spell. Spotting him on a nearby rooftop Grimnir cast a spell to allow him to fly before picking up Pint and chasing after him. The wizard himself attempted to fly away but Grimnir dispelled the enchantment allowing him to do so. The rest of the group chased on foot, eventually cornering him in an alley where he had summoned a rhinoceros to defend him. Even with his new ally, he was quickly rendered unconscious and brought to the authorities.

Session 18: July 7, '07 "The Soul Dagger"

At the end of the week, the group returned to the Magesterium to speak with Derek Ranel. They learned some information about the dagger's origin but upon realizing they would have to go into the city of Aktenor to learn more decided to leave the diabolical heart with Derek at the keep of the spell far to the west. Llewellyn and Grimnir spent some more time researching the heart but after that the group hurried away to the northeast.

Session 20 continued: July 7-18, '07 "Greyhelm Keep"

As the group prepared to leave the city again they met back up with Uriel who had been promoted to a lieutenant in his absence. He came with maps of the area between Palantyne and Aktenor and led the group toward Greyhelm keep on the nations' borders. The journey began uneventfully but on their third night Llewellyn shouted a warning before casting a fireball on a group of approaching owlbears as Grimnir cast a spell empowering himself. Aelred climbed out of his tent and began firing arrows as Aedon and Uriel stepped forward to fight. Grimnir stabbed two of the monsters through their throats crippling them as Aedon cleaved through one into another with his Maul. Llewellyn also cast another fireball helping to finish off the remaining owlbears. As Grimnir healed the wounded, Uriel dragged the monstrous corpses away from the camp to avoid attracting animals.

After a few more days of travel the group arrived at Greyhelm keep where they were greeted by a spellsword named Horatio. He heartily welcomed them and gave them each individual rooms before heading off to clean up before the evening meal. At dinner the group introduced themselves and told a little about their journey and destination. Horatio introduced his brothers, Arthur and Porthos who were each amiable and dour respectively and warned the guests of the manticores in the nearby swamps. That night Horatio showed Llewellyn some books on constructs and specifically the creation of a homunculus and the next morning he and his brother Arthur spared with Uriel. While Horatio offered to have the group stay longer, Aedon insisted they had to leave. After a few more days of traveling through the swamp, Uriel heard shouts and cries of pain from the other side of a hill and rushing to the top of it the group saw a caravan of wagons being attacked by a pair of manticores.


Session 21: July 18-23, '07 "Arriving in Aktenor"

The group defended the caravan against the manticores which were being aided by an archer and an illusionist who was captured and brought with them to Aktenor for Trial. Those in the caravan thanked them with several potions and scrolls as well as a promise of discounts were they ever to buy their wares. They also offered to travel the rest of the way to Aktenor together for safety. When they arrived in Aktenor, Aiden arranged for a guide and aid in their research at the tower of souls while Alred, Llewellyn, and Grimnir applied for licenses to cast spells. The group was also invited to a bar which served all forms of outsiders, from devils to angels but Aedon refused to stay based on the fact that they were willing to serve human blood (even if it was freely given).

Session 22: July 24, '07 "Dealing in Souls"

The group did some further research as Uriel looked into a missing soldier from Palantyne and found a large number of glassy eyed men in the area of the city he had disappeared from. Then he met back up with his companions and together they went to see ____, "The Soulstealer". Aedon questioned the man briefly before he and his companions were attacked by a flesh golem which had been left to watch over the man. After destroying it Aedon was able to convince ___ to help them in their quest to save Caelan's soul, leave Aktenor for Palantyne, and stop making soul stealing items if they could retrieve the contract for his soul. Returning to their inn, the group was ambushed by the glassy eyed men whom Uriel had seen earlier.

Session 23: July 24, '07 "Divine Thievery"

Uriel explained to his companions that he had bee given the task of finding what had happened to a fellow soldier from Palantyne and tha they glassy eyed men who had ambushed them were linked to his disappearance. They immediately offered to help with the investigation and went with Uriel to the area of the city he had found them in before. There they were eventually able to find a hidden entrance to the sewers which led to a secret lab. Apparently those brought to the lab were having their minds wiped by an aboleth (a huge tentacled fish-like creature) before being enslaved as guards. They also found the missing solider who (being dominated) attacked them immediately. After subduing him they, continued into the lab where they found an illithid had been draining diving energy from celestial beings into an orb for power (which upon freeing him from the domination, they were informed was the plot the solider they were searching for had stumbled upon). They ere also able to free a trapped angel who offered to travel with the soldier back to Palantyne to make sure he was not waylaid again before reporting his findings. They took the subdued glassy eyed men back with them in hopes of eventually helping them recover their minds.

[Paul]

Session 24: July 31-?, '07 "Diving into Hell!"

After receiving the papers granting them passage the group traveled back to Caritas to make use of it's extra-dimensional passages. There they found a skeletal figure waiting on a raft which Grimnir recognized as Charon, the ferryman who carries souls to (and very occasionally from) the lower planes. He warned his companions not to touch the water under any circumstances. As their journey continued down the river Styx, Aedon noticed that while time was obviously passing he could not keep track of it. He could not tell if they had been traveling for hours or days...

Further down the river the group were attacked by a large number of from-like daemon monsters but Uriel was able to knock most of them overboard. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally arrived at their destination, the Maggot Pits, in the first layer of hell. There they were questioned and forced through a long bureaucratic process before finally being allowed to go to their meeting. They met with ___ at the shore of one of the pits who had with him a huge grotesque golem, made from fiendish body parts as well as a small troupe of minor devils. As soon as he could be sure that the devil had the contract they were seeking on him, Aedon had Aelred fire arrows while proving him cover. Uriel stepped up to fight the golem but found himself temporarily cursed by ___. Even with the curses placed both on him and Aedon the devil and his minions were unable to survive long however during the fight an alarm had been raised and so Uriel led his companions in a hasty retreat.

Session 25: Date Unknown, '07 "Oh Hell!"

The group ran until their lungs burned, fighting past a group of bearded devils before finding hell hounds on their heels. Once they finally were able to find an area at a cliff-side where their pursuers could not see them they began to scale the rough terrain but were attacked while doing so by a beautiful woman with jet black feathered wings who fired arrows at them. Once they were able to climb to a relatively safe ledge they were able to knock her out of the sky. Aelred wanted to retrieve her bow but thought better of it when chastised by Grimnir. Upon reaching the top of the cliff they were approached by an disguised ifreet which Grimnor was able to recognize even through its glamor. It attempted to bargain with them but Aedon quickly chased it off.

Continuing on the group defended against a pair of huge fiendish lizards before sneaking past more devils which were guarding a valley pass. Continuing they finally had come into view of their destination, the Emerald Gardens, but more devils were appearing at all sides, closing in on them and so they made a break for the gates. Panting and out of breath on the other side Uriel turned to push the gates closed only to find they had done so on their own and so after a brief pause to catch their breath, the group had Aelred lead them through the gardens. As they walked among the different exotic plants, there was an eerie silence accompanied by a sense of movement from all around them despite the complete lack of fauna. Aelred was able to lead the group past a group of shambling mounds as well as some assassin vines but unfortunately finished by bringing them into the middle of a group of carnivorous plants, the size of large horses, one of which grabbed Aelred and another of which swallowed Pint. Aelred was able to pull himself free but Pint was nearly killed before the plants could be destroyed. After whipping the gooey remains from Pint and their weapons, they continued into a clearing which turned out to be their destination. In the center of the clearing was the translucent form of Caelan standing next to a shimmering pool. Aedon started to step forward and as he did so heard a voice coming from all around him saying "Beautiful isn't she? A wonderful addition to the garden..."

Session 26: ?- August 1, '07 "The Emerald Gardens"

A form coalesced from the vines a the edge of the clearing stepping forward. It claimed to be the the garden's caretaker but was only interested in watching to see what would transpire as Aedon stepped forward toward Caelan. Just as he reached the translucent woman she opened her mouth and began to wail. Apparently he trip to hell had twisted her soul into the form of a banshee, a spirit of rage, angry at a betrayal in it's life. Llewellyn was incapacitated by the scream but Aedon held on to consciousness, entreating Caelan that they were there to save her even as she attacked him. Meanwhile, Aelred attacked with the dagger which had taken her soul in the first place, having been told it could free her. Uriel tried to defend Aedon while Grimnir tended to Llewellyn. As the dagger struck the shade of what Caelan once was, she suddenly became fully corporeal, still feebly banging on Aedons chest crying "no... why... you left me..."

However the reunion was short lived as the moment Caelan seemed to have been freed, the caretaker of the garden shouted in a booming voice the could not possibly come from someone of his size: "STOP! NO ONE ENTERS OR LEAVES THIS PLACE UNLESS IT IS MY DESIRE AND YOU WILL NOT TAKE WHAT IS MINE!" Moments later he almost exploded into a creature twenty times his previous size and Caelan's rescuers found themselves face to face with a massive green dragon. Its breath weapon nearly killed Llewellyn but for Uriel Jumping into the way. Aelred stepped back and began firing arrows as Aedon attacked with his Maul and Grimnir shielded him with magic while healing Llewellyn. However as the dragon stepped forward he tore through Aedon's armor using razor sharp teeth before turning to Uriel who spent his time shouting taunts while attacking with his bastard sword. Just when it looked like Uriel would be killed however, Llewellyn, having just barely regained consciousness, created a ray of necromantic energy, weakening the dragon and saving his friend. Grimnir desperately cast spell after spell trying to keep his friend's alive before finally ending his spell protecting Aedon, just before the effort of keeping it going killed him. Finally, Uriel rolled to his feet and stabbed the beast through the heart, slaying it. Aedon quickly chopped off ts head as Grimnir prepared a spell to return them to their native plane.

Upon arriving back in Aktenor, the group found that despite it feeling like days to them, they had only been gone a few hours. It was agreed however, that despite Aktenor being better than hell, none of them wanted to be there so after collecting the (now retired) "Soul stealer" they quickly made an exit from the city and began their journey back to Palantyne with Caelan.

[Paul]

Session 27-33: August 1-31, '07 "The fall of Palantyne"

As the group began its journey back to Palantyne, Grimnir collapsed losing consciousness, his eye gushing blood. Upon awakening he announced that he had received a vision of two huge balls of fire flattening parts of Palantyne and of great turmoil for the survivors. Trusting his vision to be a warning the group hurried the rest of the way, continuing to Palantyne. Upon arriving they joined a fight outside the walls. Many of the city's guards were fighting a mass of black skinned orcs and harpies. After helping the guards drive off the attackers they were introduced to prince Parthos, who had recently returned to the city and had been fighting alongside them. They then joined him as he rushed to a bunker at the remains of the castle, looking for survivors. After escorting the survivors back to the defenses that had been erected outside the city walls they were given leave by King Thadius Galverth of head to the cities treasury to better arm themselves. There they drove off a group of looters before meeting an elf who introduced himself as Tim but would give no other introduction or explanation to his presence.

At the vault, Aedon armed himself with a massive war hammer while Grimnir armed himself with a magic spear. Returning to the encampment outside the city walls they found it being attacked by more orcs and a 15 foot tall man, covered in tentacles. Aedon stepped forward and with his new hammer easily slayed the creature. After regrouping the prince, Aedon andhis companions headed to the market square to rescue the people trapped there. After the tentacled monster, fighting more orcs was easy but there were two more aberrations aiding them. Fortunately the magic hammer Aiden was wielding made easy work of them.

Just as the group was about to lead the townsfolk back to the rest of their allies, there was a deep rumbling and a massive 20 foot tall spider burst from the ground with a mostly naked man on its back. The man talked in riddles but it was clear he was an ally to the orcs so the group attacked, slaying the spider and once it was dropped finishing of the man who had been using it as a mount. They then led the townsfolk back before heading out after Uri who had been sent on a secret mission. As they neared the part of the city where Uri had been sent they were waylaid by a Valkyrie which demanded Grimnir and Aedon turn back. Seeing through the trick however the pair attacked and destroyed the fake Valkirie but not before it could severely injure Pint, damaging his soul and putting him into a coma. When they arrived at the area where Uri had been sent they found even more bad news. There were a group of massive obelisks being unearthed by enslaved townsfolk whose minds were not their own. There were also scores of orcs which immediately attacked. Aedon, Grimnir, and prince Parthos entrenched themselves in an alleyway bottle-necking their opponents as Aelred and Llewellyn picked off those who tried to go around and after a pitched battle, the last of the guardian orcs had been killed.

Then the group began the grueling process of taking the people back to their encampment, that much harder as they seemed to not have their minds. Upon returning they had Tim examine one and discovered a parasite which made them extremely susceptible to mind control. While he researched a way to safely remove the parasites, the prince, Aedon, and his companions headed to the ruins of the city's wizard's tower. As they explored the lower levels the passage they had entered through collapsed, leaving them no way out other then searching for another exit. Upon finding no other way out the group jumped down what seemed like a bottomless pit at the bottom of which they found another man who seemed to only speak in riddles and his master, the sleeping one (a figure curled up at the bottom of a pool of water) who would soon awaken and destroy everything. Grimnir stabbed the man after hearing this but he did not seem to notice the wound.

A moment later however, the man shouted something about it not yet before tentacles burst out of him attacking the group. They were able to quickly kill him but as they did so the "Sleeping one" had awakened and come to the surface, quickly shooting a tentacle to each man's forehead and wake up knocking them out. The group awoke naked, in small cells. The wasted no time in breaking out and re-arming themselves before navigating through a small complex and to two portals, one to an underground area inhabited by lizard-folk and one to a desert area. The group retrieved a gem from each before being teleported to a third inactive portal.

Llewellyn used the two gems to activate the third portal and stepping through the group found themselves face to face with a huge tentacle covered giant, at least 100 feet tall. Charging forward they dealt minor blow after minor blow until Aedon smashed its head in with his hammer.

The group awoke to find themselves back in front of the pool which the "Sleeping one" had been contained in before climbing back out of the pit they had jumped down. A group of soldiers were able to help them free themselves from the rubble of the collapsed wizards' tower and they were told that all the orcs had dropped dead (presumably when they had slain the aberrant titan). Tim had been able to find a way to safely remove the parasites and they were each given rewards from king in thanks for everything they had done. With the help of the cleric Octarius, Grimnir and Aedon were able to revive Pint by sacrificing a bit of each of their souls. They them spent some time doing research before making the decision to look into a person from south of Palantyne who matched the description of one who had led an incursion against the spell-swords seven years earlier. Several days later they interrupted a ritual that Aelred presumed had been to summon devils. They released the blood sorcerer who had been attempting it presuming her to have not fully understood what she was doing.

Session 34: August 31, '07 "Fortress of The Son's of Paladine"

After finding a long abandoned gate which Uriel and Llewellyn activated the group explored an abandoned fortress, eventually finding it inhabited by a devourer.

Session 35: August 31- September 1, '07 "Escape to the Elves!"

Having defeated the devourer the group spoke with the spirits of the former inhabitants before being interrupted by Llewellyn who claimed that "Darnok the Destroyer" was outside the gate preparing to attack them. He then redirected the gate to teleport them to the academy in the elven capital rather than back to the arch-devil.

[Paul]

Session 36:September 2-5, '07 "Exploring the Deadwood"

Each member of the group began to use the academy's resources to tool into the history of "Darnok the Destroyer" and various powerful weapons. They spent an evening at the Brass Pitcher with the Captain of the academy's guards. Eventually Aelred who had been researching an undead creature he had previously tracked to the area was told he would have more luck speaking with Narbeth, the guardian of "The Deadwood". Llewellyn was able to use the academy resources to shortcut the group to their destination using a shadow-walk spell. While making their way through the blighted forest however they were attacked by twisted treants.

Session 37: September 5-12, '07 "North from the Deadwood"

Arriving at what had once been the home of Narbeth the group spoke with a visiting centaur druid and when he returned the ghostly Narbeth. They spent some time looking into what caused Narbeth's soul to be unable to leave the place and what had twisted the surrounding area and found a crater with bones (presumably Narbeth's) and two strange emeralds. Llewellyn and Grimnir were knocked unconscious when they touched the gemstones and together witnessed a stranger vision of a massive man with a shadowed face wear black plate and bone maille. They sent word back to academy and then headed north to look into what they had been able to find about Aelred's missing sister. Upon nearing their destination they Fought undead in path in the foothills which had been attacking several travelers, saving one of the unfortunates.

Session 38: September 12, '07 "Ambushed in Abrudbánya"

Traveling with the woman they had saved to Abrudbanya several of the group questioned townsfolk of the recent undead activity white Uriel and Aedon patrolled the village. They were unfortunately ambushed and chased back to the inn where once inside the inn the inn was surrounded.

Session 39: September 12-13, '07 "Interrupting the Ritual"

The group fled from the inn through a passage that Grimnir created bringing as many townsfolk as they could to safety. They then made the trek up the mountainside to the baron's manor where they attacked the vampire that had killed him interrupting its ritual.

[Paul]

Session 40: September 13-17, '07 "Astral Ambush"

When Grimnir and Llewellyn attempted to teleport the group back to the elven academy they found themselves in a very stranger place instead being attacked by three angels! Llewellyn recognized that they were in the astral plane and made use of this information to devastating effect. He and Grimnir also noticed two of the angels seemed to be under some sort of Geas and trapped them until the third could be dealt with.

Session 41: September 17-20, '07 "Searching for clues"

The two surviving angels were unable to explain what had happened to their third to cause his betrayal but did lead the group to a portal out of the astral plane and helped them to defeat the astraldaemon guarding it. Llewellyn was able to use some of his remaining spells to activate the portal and return himself and his companions to the academy where they did further research into weapons that might hurt "Darnok the destroyer".

Session 42: September 20-30, '07 "A God-slaying Sword!?!"

Aedon was told of an elf who knew of the existence of a god-slaying sword and the group met the girl, Alura, at the Brass Pitcher. Unfortunately while there they were attacked again by the blood sorceress they had released several weeks earlier who had apparently been possessed by the pit fiend they had been researching. Llewellyn was able to counter the possession using a dominate person spell just long enough for him and Grimnir to permanently remove the possession. Afterward the group spoke with Alura who agreed to bring them to the Temple of Time, where the wizard who knew where the god-slaying sword was resided.

Session 43-44: October 1-?, '07 "The Temple of Time"

On their way to the temple of time the group was attacked by a large number of carnivorous trees but were quickly able to defeat them, Grimnir sending one to the plane of fire. When they finally found themselves in the appropriate place and camped for the night they awoke to see the land scape around them had changed. Making their way though what seemed to be nothing but ruins they were attacked by a beholder which they were able to surprisingly quickly kill. They also found a strange crazy old man wandering past them that Grimnir was able to convince to leave peaceably. When they finally found the temple entrance among the ruins however they man attacked them attempting to gain entrance. He was defeated however as Llewellyn used a magic jar spell to possess him and cruelly broke his leg while helpless. Auron, the custodian of the temple then came out placing a geas on the crazy man to wander through time, unable to cause harm.

Session 45: October ?-7, '07 "Flight from the Temple of Time"

Upon bringing them into the temple, Auron introduced the group to the copper dragon Threvari and told them about the history of the temple. Uriel let himself get lost in the many halls while Aedon told storied to Threvari and had the dragon show him around with Grimnir. Auron eventually was able to find a book regarding "Darnok the Destroyer" to give to the group and in addition told them everything he could about the god-slaying sword and the disciple of Asmodeus who currently had it. They were interrupted however as a massive horned devil covered in blood smashed through a wall with a group of fiendish ogres and a stone golem. At Auron's suggestion, the group fled through the corridors of the temple, fighting the ogres and golem as they fled before being confronted at the doors by the horned devil who demanded they return what they had to it's master before attacking. Aelred quickly fired several arrows into it before being stunned and Uriel charged. Strangely when Uriel's blade struck the creature both it and the devil exploded, throwing Uriel back against the door to the temple and the devil's remains did not discorperate as usual. As their were no more enemies delaying them, the group quickly gathered their things (Pint grabbing an eyeball from the remains of the devil) and fled the temple site.

Session 46: October 7-11, '07 "I hate scry and die wizards..."

The group began their journey back towards Palantyne, aided by phantasmal steeds which Llewellyn had summoned for them. As they traveled, Llewellyn warned them that they were being scryed upon repeatedly. One of the scrying attempts he said was from the Lord Mage Derek Ranel, but most of the others he was not able to trace back to their source. Even so, they remained unmolested. On the evening of the third day however, they were attacked by a pair of massive fire elementals and another pair of hell hounds, larger than war horses. After slaying the hounds and driving off the elementals Llewellyn was able to trace another scrying attempt from somewhere to the northeast.

In the morning, he sent a sending to the Derek asking for help before leading his companions to the cliff-side where they had been scryed upon from. On their way, they were contacted by Desin Trelaway of the Spellswords, who had been sent by Derek to aid them. With their new companion, Llewellyn led his friends to their destination where they found a large number of dwarf like creatures with flames for hair doing construction. Sneaking past the azers, they made their way into a small complex that was being build into the cliff-side and to the scrying chamber of the wizard who resided there. Even losing the element of surprise from tripping a fire laced ward, the group were able to kill the wizard, his apprentice, and his summoned guards before retreating with Desin to the nearby keep of the Spellswords.

[Paul]

Session 47: October 12-26, '07 "Traveling to Palantyne"

In the keep of the spellswords, Aedon reported to Derek Ranel while Llewellyn and Grimnir examined the tombs they had received in the temple of time. Llewellyn eventually found one to be in high speak (a language of ancient gods) while the other was a strangely coded version of an infernal tongue. The group decided to hurry on to the keep in which they had learned was home to a god-slaying weapon however rather than taking the time to finish decoding the books.

They then traveled with a group of spellswords to Palantyne near which they were attacked by a group of huge worms that were covered with strange pincers. Llewellyn was reprimanded for an accidental attempt to use a magic jar spell on Derek and the group continued east to the coast as the spellswords stayed at the city. When the group was resting for the night (after having come to the coast and preparing to make their way north) Aedon noticed a small group attempting to sneak up on them and hailed the "mercenaries" so as to avoid killing them had they attempted to ambush himself and his companions. He awoke his companions and they invited the guests to join them at their fire for safety in numbers (and to keep an eye on them) before resting for the remainder of the night.

Session 48: October 27, '07 "Ambushing the ambushers!"

In the morning Grimnir spoke to different members of the mercenary band before they departed and using a spell to read their leader's mind determined that he was indeed a minion of Darnoc the destroyer and intended to ambush them further north. Then after a lengthy discussion, he and his companions decided to follow them and ambush them first that night. Aelred quickly followed the tracks of the horses but nevertheless it took them well into the evening to find the mercenaries' camp. Llewellyn used a magic jar spell to cause confusion and take opponents out of the fight while his companions charged making quick work of their opponents but unfortunately allowing their leader to teleport away. However, after a length bargain with one of their prisoners they agreed to let her leave and keep her possessions if she would teleport them to the mercenary base (with Aedon staying behind to guard the heart). Upon arriving they were ambushed by a group of devils before finding the mercenary leader who was able to severely injure Uriel and Llewellyn before being dispatched. Grimnir then attempted to plane-shift the woman who had teleported them to the base but she recognizing his treachery fled.


Session 49: October 28-30, '07 "Hellspawn!?!"

After meeting up with Aedon and finding Delilah had bargained with him to travel with the group to Felbrin Aelred demanded that she submit to a mark of justice spell to prevent any inevitable (in his mind) betrayal. She however refused claiming to not trust Grimnir or Aelred.

As the Hellbreakers continued to travel north up the coast with Delilah and Gaknar, they came upon a small boy running through the woods being chased by a pair of huge demonic spiders. After destroying the creatures and rescuing the boy Aedon detected a strong Nauseating presence coming from him but could find no cause. Bringing him back to his village the group found his parents extremely worried and thankful but soon after entering the the town they found themselves quarantined to the town by one of Aktenor's high inquisitors who was investigating funds that had gone missing and had mysteriously appeared in the town to pay their taxes. Searching throughout the town they found several strange occurrences including a man who could not talk, another who seemed twice his age but was recently engaged to a beautiful woman, and an attack by a group of enchanted scarecrows and mosquito demons.

Continuing to examine the boy they had rescued Grimnir determined that he had nothing supernaturally wrong with him. He was however able to find a magical ruby hidden on his body which he had apparently stolen. Llewellyn was able to identify it as a wishing stone that would grant cursed wishes. The group then rested for the night debating their next move.

Session 50: October 31, '07 "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue"

The next day wedding preparations were being made for the aging man and his fiancee. Grimnir, suspecting the man's wife to be was a succubus, offered to perform the service. Throughout the day the group investigated further possible curses, rescuing a missing girl from a gray render, curing the mute man, and searching for a creature that had been attacking fishermen. Upon finding and killing the creature it immediately transformed into another missing and apparently cursed fisherman. Aedon, seeing the other fishermen to be extremely distraught, handed one the cursed gem telling him to make a wish. As the man wished his friend were still alive the gem cracked and crumbled to dust just as a massive glabrezu appeared. Grimnir pushed the fisherman off the docks to safety as Aedon and the demon traded blows. Aelred fired an arrow causing the glabrezu to fly 100 feet into the air and Llewellyn and Uri finished it off as it reversed the spell effecting it.

That evening at the wedding ceremony, Grimnir tricked the succubus bride, trapping it in a magic circle just as a huge Nalfeshnee and a number of other demons which had been secretly watching the ceremony attacked. Aedon and Pint destroyed a group of Vrocks as Uri and Grimnir attacked the Nalfeshnee. The Inquisitor and his guards attacked several other demons while Delilah created disintegrating rays and Aelred fired arrows to protect fleeing townsfolk. Gaknar put himself between the demons and any nearby children. Fortunately very few townsfolk ended up being injured as the group was able to place themselves between then and their opponents.

Session 51: October 31 - November 5, '07 "Traveling to Felbrin"

Grimnir explained to the High Inquisitor the nature of the demons and that they were likely the cause of the missing funds he had been investigating and convinced him to allow the group to leave the city before the investigation was complete. Meanwhile, Llewellyn investigated the demons and the places they had been hiding. He found and freed a trapped Marid (water genie) before returning to his companions.

The next morning the group left the town, eager to head to their actual destination. While tromping through the swamp they weer mostly unmolested. It was the first time in weeks that they had not found themselves attacked by minions of Darnok the destroyer for so long. On their last day traveling through the swamp however, they were attacked by a group of giant crocodiles. Grimnir banished planeshifted a pair as Uriel blocked off the rest from attacking his companions and Aeldred fired arrows. Between the pair and with the aid of Llewellyn's spells they were able to finish off the remaining reptiles rather quickly.

[Paul]

Session 52: November 6-10, '07 "Investigating Felbrin"

The group investigated the city of Felbrin to find our as much as they could about the enchantress/priestess of Asmodeus, Chrystania who ruled the citadel. Llewalyn gained her trust.

Session 53: November 10-11, '07 "Attack from below!"

The group sneaked into the citadel through the sewers and fought a 5 headed hydra/ aspect of Tiamat.

Session 54: November 11, '07 "Inside the Citadel"

Charging up to the top of the tower to retrieve the Godslayer, they defeated the imolation demon guarding it only to have Llewalyn flee with the weapon itself.

Session 55: April 3, '08 "Retrieving the Godslayer"

Having finally tracked Llewalyn down the group layed siege to the frost giant fortress he was hiding in. Evntualyl they were able to fight Llewalyn himself, defeating him to retrieve the weapon.