Campaign Journal #12 - What We Know

Editor's Note: This is the last of the campaign journals. The journals were the method of chronicling the campaign prior to the Temple Blog. They were sent out over email, and they are republished here for reference.

1st Day of Fireseek, CY 592

Overall Plot - There is a group of cultists attempting to free their imprisoned deity, Tharizdun. He was imprisoned sometime before the Age of Man. Apparently this requires the calling of some or all of the Elemental Princes, who are the offspring of the Elder Elemental Eye. The EEE is an aspect of Tharizdun. (source: Fistan Nolro). Other details of how they plan to free him and the part the Elemental Princes will play is not known.

Locations of Note
Hommlet
Trade route crossroads village in the Kron Hills; ruled by Rufus (warrior) and Byrne (mage); prominent Church of Saint Cuthbert (Canoness Y’dey); Captain of the Watch is Elmo; group of cultists stationed were under the command of Master Dunrat

Moathouse
Outpost of the original Temple of Elemental Evil (ToEE); large black obelisk found under the moathouse; originally commanded by Lareth the Beautiful; cultists apparently were looking for artifacts related to the Elder Elemental Eye (according to the journal of Geynor Tom)

Nulb
Ghost town near old temple site; Lareth was found here, stated he was raised from the dead by Hedrack following the events of the destruction of the original ToEE

Old Temple
Site of original ToEE; originally commanded by Hedrack; built by priests of Zuggtmoy, Lolth and Iuz; built to honor Elder Elemental Eye

Sacked by army from Veluna and Furyondy under the leadership of Prince Thrommel in 569 CY; rose again ten years later under Hedrack, group of adventurers defeated it, lower levels collapsed, Zuggtmoy banished

Rastor
Old dwarven mining town in Lortmil mountains; ruled by Rerrid Hammersong until Ready’reat 591 CY; main supply line for cultists through Tal Chammish until Reaping 591 CY; devastated by vampires and abandoned

Temple of All Consumption
Large temple complex consisting of Crater Ridge Mines, Outer Fane, Inner Fane

Originally known as Kuluth Dun, when it was a dwarven mining stronghold (ended about one hundred years ago)

Crater Ridge Mines
Massive cave network surrounding a crater lake called the Stalagos; home to four cultist temples and four bridge complexes

Air Temple – High Priest Fachish (human)
Earth Temple – High Priest Uskathoth (troglodyte)
Fire Temple – High Priestess Tessimon (human)
Water Temple – High Priestess Kelashein (human)
North Bridge – Commanded by Oomarthis (duergar)
East Bridge – Commanded by Eeridik (wererat sorcerer)
Water Bridge – Commanded by Poolidib (kuo-toa)
Western Bridge – Commanded by D’Gran (half-demon ogre mage)

Party responsible for destroying all temples and bridge complexes except for water temple whose fate is unknown, but there is information indicating they were punished for allying with the party to attack the fire temple. All high priests and commanders are dead, but Tessimon’s body was taken by Eeridik; he was later seen returning from Outer Fane.

At various points, the party has found cryptic phrases associated with each temple.

• Air - "Wind scatters those who oppose us"
• Earth - "Stone crushes the weak"
• Fire - "Fire burns away my enemies"
• Water - "Waves pound relentlessly"

Large tomb complex near the fire temple, contains gate to ethereal plane. This is where the party met Galgaliel, the solar, and saw the Indomitable Gate. The main crypt room was for Unariq, who was previously one of the high priests.

Outer Fane
Temple complex in the center of the crater lake; three bridges connect it to the CRM

North – Air Bridge/Door

East – Earth Bridge/Door

West – Fire Bridge/Door

South - Water Door

• Master of the Fane – Hedrack; former priest of Iuz; looking for (and apparently found) the “champion” (source: Hedrack’s letter to Mavrilla Topart’tal); warned the party that if they persisted in their quest he would destroy Rastor
• 2nd in Command – Varachan; personally oversaw the breaking of Prince Thrommel (according to journal written by him); a note sent by him to Kelashein contained a hidden message apparently directed to the party; a second note carried by Eeridik seemed helpful by detailing the arrangement of forces in the ridge mines.

Other Persons of Note -

• Naquent, Assistant to Hedrack
• Thrommel, fallen prince of Furyondy (see full entry below)
  

Inner Fane
Little is known about this area, but according to Tarren the druid it is the home of the Doomdreamers. The inner circle of the doomdreamers is called the triad.

• The First – very old, human? (source Tarren the Druid)
• The Second – aboleth
• The Third – daughter of Yan-C-Bin

Persons of Interest

• Elemental Princes, Children of the Elder Elemental Eye (Tharizdun)
• Yan-C-Bin, Air
• Imix, Fire
• Ogremach, Earth
• Olhyrdra, Water

• Jorelu of Mitrik
  Aasimar bard who is leading a party investigating the fate of Prince Thrommel; explored the ruined moathouse with Vannay, Victor, Elennias and Eledarion.

• Xaod
  Formerly wayward paladin, who is working with Jorelu; Nephew of Jolene D’Amphere, who was betrothed to Thrommel

• Fistan Nolro
  Archmage who lives in Veluna and Furyondy; advisor to King Belvor of Furyondy; recently joined the Circle of Eight

• Prince Thrommel IV
  Crown Prince of Furyondy, Provost of Veluna; led the forces at Battle of Emridy Meadows 569 CY; disappeared from the Flanaess in 573 CY; strong evidence suggests that he is now a vampire

• King Belvor
  King of Furyondy and father of Thrommel, aging ruler with no heir giving cause for concern about the future of the kingdom; declared an “eternal war” against Iuz

• Galgaliel
  Powerful solar who is tasked with guarding the Indomitable Gate, which imprisons Tharizdun; said that two of the temple priests came to the gate, one came seeking enlightenment and found it (Varachan), the other came seeking his master and has joined him (Unariq); delivered a prophecy concerning the means to free Tharizdun

• The childe of nothing in the dark gate does slumber,
• His freedom unbidden but nothing shall cumber,
• For the walls will not hold when His blood is brought forth,
• The four moons unsealed by one of marked worth,
• Cry out the name, in His service draw breath,
• Unmake the world, praise Him, come death.
  
  Other Quests and News Items
• With the use of Fragarach, attempt to save Prince Thrommel from his vampirism; assigned by King Belvor.
• Report status of expedition; assigned by Canoness Y’dey.
• Recover Tulian’s Eye from Kuluth Dun ridge mines, dwarven journal found indicating the eye was near the destrachans; assigned by Khannenhelm Dwarves.
• Research possible connection between Iuz and the EEE cultists.
• Letter from Jorelu detailing possible connection between drow house, Topart’tal, and EEE cultists.
• Word of a separatist movement in Veluna with possible Scarlet Brotherhood ties.
• Word of increased orc activity in Veluna and Verbobonc with possible Pomarj ties.
• Track down the rakshasas who attempted to prevent Fragarach from returning to King Belvor.
• Determine the usage method of “keys” found in Air, Earth and Fire temples.

The Tower of Al-Harnala, Part II

16th - 19th Day of Ready'reat, CY 591

The priestess stepped towards Madoc and cast a death spell on him. He was able to resist the spell, but he was weakened in the process. She seemed to do this in an instant, and was able to follow it up with a windstorm centered around her blowing out in all directions.

Safadin was able to resist the high winds, and he sent an explosive ball of lightning at the priestess. She dodged most of the electric attack, but still took damage. Madoc made several attacks against the priestess landing a single blow. Creden grabbed the binder and crossed back over through the planar breach. The priests of light followed him over, but were immediately knocked over by the power of the winds.

The priestess then spoke the words of anathema inscribed on her obex holy symbol, and a destructive power surged through Creden. He resisted the spell, but he was still damaged by the attack. Safadin attempted to cast another spell at the priestess, but he was not able to overcome her resistance. Madoc landed several blows against her this time, but at the end of his attacks she seemed to gain much of her strength back. Creden said a prayer to Saint Cuthbert shielding everyone from her attacks. It did not seem to affect her though. He then moved in to melee range. The priests tried to attack her with light rays, but the power of the wind and her resistance stopped their attacks.

The priestess stepped towards Creden, cast a necromancy spell and touched him. He was saved from the majority of the damage, but was nearly dropped by the effect nonetheless. Creden brought his maul down on her head. It split her skull and drove her brain pan into her spine. Killing her instantly.

The priests said that the binder was no longer safe, and that it was our duty to protect it. They passed back through the light field as it was dissapating.

We searched the priestess, but we did not find any evidence of who told the cultists about our mission. Safadin began deciphering the ancient text inscribed on the wall of the main chamber.

The text can be read here.

Madoc went upstairs to check on the status of our exit from the temple. He noticed that the bones were missing, and tracks led into the bedchamber nearby. As he started going down the stairs to warn us, he heard footsteps following us. He hid in the shadows of the stairwell, and saw a skeletal figure of a woman in robes passing by. She entered the main chamber, and Safadin determined that she was a lich.

She identified herself as Al Harnala, and she congratulated us on the defeat of the priestess. She briefly recounted the story of her imprisonment by Lord Obender, and her association with Ibenala. She also confirmed that Ibenala is Tiamat, the Lord of Evil Dragons. She did not know who the priestess was, but suggested a possible connection to the Brotherhood of Tilvan. Safadin recalled from his study of history that this group eventually became the Scarlet Brotherhood.

She asked that we destroy the iron golem, which housed her phylactery.We did this the next day without difficulty, and then by request we destroyed her.

We decided that before we give the binder to anyone, we should ask for advice from Saint Cuthbert. Someone at the council meeting in Hommlet was working with the cultists. Creden communed with his deity and found out that one of the aids to Alarion Gantil, professor at the Grey College and mentor to Safadin, had been killed and replaced by a shapeshifter. This was the same shapeshifter who we killed in Blue. The commune said it was unclear as to whether the binder could be protected by Canoness Y’dey, but we decided that it was the best course of action.

We teleported to Hommlet by way of Blue and met with Canoness Y’dey. She was pleased with our work, and she agreed to keep the binder.

Our part in the quest is now complete.

The Tower of Al-Harnala, Part I

16th Day of Ready'reat, CY 591

We arrived at the Tower of Al Harnala and found a pile of bones and an iron statue, which Safadin identified as an iron golem. Madoc found some tracks in the accumulated dust, and this led him to a concealed door behind a tapestry. We descended down a staircase to the lower level of the tower.

We did some preparation and then opened the door into the main chamber. We saw a large room with a glass structure in the center. On top of the glass structure was a raised golden dais. A priestess wearing the black obex symbol was on the dais. Surrounding the center structure was a field of bright light. Everything in the room had a strange intensity about it. The retriever was not here.

Our entrance into the room was blocked by a field of force. Safadin was able to destroy the force wall, and Jerric quickly entered the room. When he entered the light field, he disappeared. Based on the effects in the room and what happened to Jerric, Safadin determined that the light field was part of a controlled breach connecting the room to the positive energy plane. Travelling through the light field would be dangerous.

Madoc and Creden entered the light field to try and help Jerric. A blinding light hit them as they entered the positive energy plane. Luckily, they were able to avoid its effects. This room was a glass tower with the same dimensions as the place they just left. It had a white stone structure in the center with a blue dais. Madoc noticed a small silver ring on top of the dais. We had found the Air Binder at last. A battle was already in progress between the abyssal construct, Jerric and four strange, armor-clad light creatures.

The energy in the room was overwhelming. Jerric was consumed by the effects. Creden dismissed the retriever. The luminescent creatures cast protective auras on Madoc and Creden. Madoc returned to the light field and crossed back over to the material plane, while Creden went to the altar to grab the binder.

The session ended with Madoc standing on the golden dais near the priestess, and Creden standing on the blue dais near the binder. Safadin and the priestess were preparing to do battle.

Campaign Journal #11 - The Indomitable Gate

Month of Ready’reat

Drink to the Dwur in their halls,
Drink for the one who has fallen,
Pray to the one All Father,
Pray they be not forgotten.

5th Day – The Riverwalk Society

• Our party bard, Delvanos, gave a rousing account of our battle in the Fire Temple. The Riverwalk Society was pleased with his work, and he was made an official member. There was much talk about town concerning these wild tales of battle and evil cults in the Lortmil Mountains.

17th Day – Back in Rastor

• We spent the last few weeks enjoying a break in Verbobonc. Nothing much of note happened during this time.


• Rerrid had nothing to report.


• Thandain is still watching the activity around the ridge mines. The exodus from the mines seems to have slowed down.

18th Day – Battle at the Western Bridge

• We prepared ourselves for our second battle against D’Gran.


• He had a considerable force consisting of gnoll archers, hill giants and two trolls.


• We were able to overcome these forces and finally defeat D’Gran.

19th Day – Firre Oranac’s Playroom

• We began the process of clearing out unexplored areas in the mines.


• Further exploration in the Fire Temple revealed the depths of the gnome’s depravity. He had a fully equipped torture room, and to our horror a person was in the iron maiden.


• The man had no semblance of sanity, but he did have the mark of the Riverwalk Society.


• We also found a demon shaped stone. It seemed to speak to Vannay. We decided it would be best just to destroy it.

20th Day – Splitting Up

• Vannay, Victor, Delvanos and the torture victim teleported to Verbobonc. Once again we did not make it there on our first try.


• The man holding the purse for the Riverwalk Society was not very helpful with funding the restoration costs for their beleagured member.


• Once the man was healed, we discovered that he was a member of Tymerion’s party. His name is Juriketh. He decided to stay in Verbobonc.


• The rest of the party was making their way back to the Dwarven Temple, when they were attacked by the demon spider. We were able to defeat it.

21st Day – The Crypt, Part One

• We found a crypt near the Fire Temple with an ominous warning for those who would attempt to enter.


• While investigating some of the sarcophogi, Korthalis was cursed with a wasting disease.


• Another trip to Verbobonc was required to save him from being consumed.

22nd Day – The Crypt, Part Two

• Once again we entered the crypt. Through divination magic, we discovered that the guardian statues were the source of the curse effect. Uthgar and Korthalis destroyed them.


• We encountered a group of large bats in the next area, but they were quickly dealt with.


• The next room almost ended our adventures in the mines. A group of six shadows and four spectres attacked en masse.


• Victor was able to turn several of them, and we destroyed a few. After that we retreated to the Dwarven Temple.

23rd Day – A Day for Healing

• We spent this entire day restoring the power and strength we lost in the previous day’s fight.

24th Day – Unariq’s Tomb

• We returned to the crypt fully prepped for the remaining undead. The battle was much easier this time, but Korthalis still was drained of power by one of the spectres.


• The next room contained a sarcophagus that belonged ot Unariq Vol’Talsimol. This guy must have been pretty important in the temple heirarchy considering the size of his tomb.


• A statue animated when we entered and began firing magic missiles at us, but we were able to smash it to bits.


• The sarcophagus did not contain a body. It had a strange swirling black vortex.


• Korthalis touched the vortex and disappeared. The rest of the party followed him.


• A strange beast similar to an ethereal marauder fought us on the other side.

24th Day – The Indomitable Gate

• Then we saw a massive gate covered in sigils and barred with a massive chain.


• A celestial being appeared and told us his name is Galgaliel. His mission is to guard this gate for eternity. It is the prison of Tharizdun.


• The solar gave us some information about other visitors to the tomb. One of them was Unariq. The solar said that Unariq is “with his master now”. The other visitor was Varachan, who came seeking understanding. Varachan is the second in command of the Outer Fane, but he has passed us two helpful bits of information along the way.


• Galgaliel also spoke of a prophecy given by Tharizdun to his worshippers. It details how they should free him.

The childe of nothing in the dark gate does slumber,His freedom unbidden but nothing shall cumber,For the walls will not hold when His blood is brought forth,The four moons unsealed by one of marked worth,Cry out the name, in His service draw breath,Unmake the world, praise Him, come death.

24th Day – The Longest Night

• We explored a bit more of the ridge mines after leaving the Solar.


• Along the way we encountered a gray render, who had strange arcane markings inscribed on him. He used these to increase his power.


• We also discovered the terminus of a rail system, which the Kuluth Dun dwarves must have used for transport during their mining operations.


• Before we were able to explore the mine rails, Vannay received a message from Jorelu that Rastor was in trouble.


• Vannay, Victor, Delvanos and Uthgar teleported to the temple in Rastor.


• Korthalis and Erwin began the long hike to Rastor on foot.


• The town had been attacked by one or more vampires, and Jorelu said that many of the townsfolk were now spawn.


• Jorelu showed us what became of Rerrid. He had been crucified just outside his temple. His beard had been torn out, and he was horribly maimed.


• We had to be sure that Rerrid was not a vampire, so we staked his heart and beheaded him.


• Victor discovered that one of the children who took refuge in the temple with his family had been bitten by a vampire.


• The mother insisted that he had been sick, but he was much better. The father accepted the fate of their son, and he performed the necessary work to give his son peace.


• The blacksmith shop appeared to have the capability of making silvered weapons, but none were found there.


• Xaod and Jorelu began doing house to house searches for signs of vampires.


• We also began this work, and we encountered several vampire spawn.


• Tymerion had also been overcome with vampirism. She attacked us, but she was able to escape before we could put her down.


• Korthalis and Erwin encountered Thandain on the way back to Rastor. She was behaving somewhat strangely (even for her), but it was not until Thurlkosig (sp?) arrived that we new the truth.


• She was too much for us, and Korthalis fell under her axe blows. Erwin healed him, and they began trying to escape.


• Erwin did not see the final outcome of Thandain’s pursuit of Korthalis, but it is assumed that we was able to catch him.


• The other party members tracked Tymerion to her home and destroyed her.


• We then searched Thandain’s home and found the cache of silvered weapons in her cellar.


• When Erwin made it to town, we rested for the night in the temple.


• The next day we searched the area of the battle with Thandain, but no sign of Korthalis or Thandain was found.

Campaign Journal #10 - The Eastern Bridge

Month of Ready’reat

1st Day – Back to Rastor

• We finished our meeting with Fistan Nolro. He offered to teleport us back to Rastor, and we accepted.


• Rerrid told us that Thandain had been scouting out the area around the ridge mines.


• Thandain told us that she saw some “gnoll-like” creatures and a giant escorting a wagon back into the South Gate. The wagon had some elven prisoners.


• Thandain also noted large numbers of bugbears exiting the mines along with several other creatures. This wasn’t a mass exodus, but over the course of a fortnight several creatures were seen exiting.


• We rested that night in Rastor.

2nd Day – Temple, Traps, Giants and Death

• We entered the mines and began searching again for the Temple of Moradin. The orcs had cleared out.


• We found the entrance to the temple just south of the main orc area. It was well protected by a pit trap.


• We found a room with several ornately etched spheres. We realized these were divine relics of Moradin. Korthalis seemed intent on keeping anyone else from handling these items. We determined that he was under the influence of a magical compulsion.


• Another room contained a magnificent emerald on a silver chain. When Uthgar and Korthalis examined it, they saw magnificent images of their ancestral past. Clearly this item was a powerful relic.


• We entered the main temple area and encountered the guardian left behind by the dwarves of Kuluth Dun. It was finely crafted with adamantine plate armor and four razor sharp blades, and it seemed impervious to most energy and magical attacks.


• The battle was difficult, and it took the life of our rogue, Olitherum.


• We were exploring the rest of the temple, when a Vannay’s pet heard a loud noise near the entrance.


• A group of bugbears, a warlock and a massive blue skinned demon giant had entered the temple.


• The bugbears laid down withering fire from their bows and the mage shot eldritch spears at us. We closed the distance but our frontline was hit hard by the demon giant’s cold attack.


• Vannay weakened the assault force considerably with a fiery blast, and Delvanos followed it up with several well placed shots.


• The demon giant made to escape on the premise that he was getting some giants as reinforcements.


• Vannay entangled the remaining bugbear, the warlock and the demon giant in a web.


• The giant assumed gaseous form and escaped. After the web was dismissed, we finished off the warlock and bugbear.


• Victor was able to catch up with him. He changed into a small insect, but Victor grappled and apparently killed him.


• As we searched the remains of the assault force, the pseudodragon noticed that the demon giant, D’Gran, was recovering quickly from his wounds. Before we could put him down again, he became invisible and began fleeing.


• Aided by Delvanos’ haste spell, we gave chase. D’Gran called for his giant reinforcements to come to him.


• We still pursued him, but it became clear that catching him again would be difficult.


• We made preparations for another assault, but after some time waiting it became apparent that no attack was forthcoming.


• A decision was reached to go and find D’Gran before he had a chance to rest and regain his power. We healed our wounds and set out.


• Korthalis followed the bugbear tracks to the Western Bridge Complex. Upon entering, we discovered that D’Gran’s claims of giant reinforcements were true. There were two brutish looking giants standing near some piles of stone. Another wiry looking giant clad in chain armor, who we identified as a troll. And there was another feral looking troll waiting for us.


• A decision was reached that this battle might be best fought on another day.


• We returned to the temple. There was one room unopened. Korthalis filled in admirably for our fallen rogue, when he disarmed the trap protecting the room.


• We had found the dwarven treasury. Clearly these dwarves had obtained great wealth in the ridge mines. The Eye of Tulian Saltheart was not in the treasury. Korthalis later mentioned that the dwarves may have placed it somewhere else in the ridge mines to protect it from treasure hunters and other undesirables.


• The dwarves believed that there may be other unseen exits out of the temple, and Vannay used his wand to locate two exits. One of them led to the outside. Finally, we have a better (or at least better hidden) entrance into the ridge mines.


• We spent the night in the temple.

3rd Day – Back in Rastor

• Rerrid was happy to see us again, and he gave his condolences for our fallen companion.


• He was very pleased to hear that the temple was finally found.


• Rerrid agreed that the temple artifacts were safer in the hands of the Khannenhelm Clan until the mines were safe again for dwarven settlement.


• We presented him with the gold statue of Moradin recovered from the temple.


• Rerrid told us that there was a former resident of Rastor scouting out the area around the mines with Thandain. His name is Erwin Muir.

News of the Flanaess
Excerpt from an article in the Furyondy Beacon, 6th Day of Brewfest, C.Y. 591

The blight that darkened our lands this year has ended. A group of adventurers travelled to Blackwell and discovered cultists of Incabulus. The cultists had spread this blight over the fields of the March, Littleberg and Gold County. The immediate danger has ended, but the grain supply has been stretched to the point of breaking. The winter will be very difficult.

Although apparently not the source of the troubles, Iuz did take steps to make the bad situation worse. Agents of Old Wicked delayed and rerouted grain shipments, set fire to storehouses and stirred unrest among the northern regions of the kingdom.

Word from Chendl gave news that some of the crops were saved. The epidemic did not reach famine levels. Next year’s planting should not be affected by the events of this year. Lord Marten on behalf of King Belvor IV said, “This has been a difficult time. No one in Furyondy has been spared from the vicious attacks on our food supply. We can be confident that next year the reaping in the March will yield a good crop. The dresadoes of the Gold County will bloom. The king has declared a special festival during Needfest to commemorate the work of these heroes and the saving of the kingdom.” Marten went on to say that a special announcement would be made by the king during the year’s winter festival.

Campaign Journal #9 - Truths Uncovered

Month of Patchwall

22nd Day – A Quick Death

• We left the room with the orc families, and moved deeper into the orc complex.


• The Orc King, Oglahk, and two guards were spotted. The king was an Orog, which is a cross between an ogre and an orc.


• Vannay fired a cone of cold at them, and it did a great deal of damage, but it left him exposed. Oglahk moved forward and slew Vannay with his axe.


• The battle was somewhat difficult, and there were reinforcements, but we eventually took them all down.


• We exited the mines and returned to Rastor.


• Rerrid suggested that the canoness in Hommlet could help with Vannay.

26th Day – Council with Y’dey

• We met with Canoness Y’dey at her church in Hommlet.


• She told us that there had been a meeting with representatives from Verbobonc, Hommlet and Rastor to discuss the increased activity with the priests of the Elder Elemental Eye.


• Some of this information had been relayed to us by Rerrid the week before.


• Y’dey had found out through agents of the church that the EEE priests had discovered the location of one of the binders. These are the same binders used by the ancient Suloise Dominion. The council decided to dispatch a group of adventurers who would try and obtain the binder before the priests were able to.


• Y’dey was very interested in finding out about what we knew regarding the EEE activities. She informed us that she had dispatched an archon hound as a scout.


• Y’dey did recognize the black obex holy symbol as that of Tharizdun. She told us that he is the god of Entropy and Destruction, but she did not know his connection to the EEE.


• She told us that a wizard known as Fistan Nolro might have information we could use.


• She agreed to perform the resurrection on Vannay at half cost. In return, we would give regular reports to her regarding our progress.


• Vannay was brought back to life.

27th Day – Home Sweet Home

• We teleported to the House of Vannay in Mitrik.


• We spent the day here and met Vannay’s father.

28th Day – Tower of Fistan Nolro

• We travelled to the wizard’s tower. Apparently he was not too keen on visitors.


• We had to overcome three challenges in order to gain an audience with him.


• The first one was a simple puzzle involving three full cups and three empty cups. The only hard part was that the ceiling was closing in on us, while we solved the puzzle.


• The second challenge involved burning two ropes to determine a precise time that a door would open. Oli came through on this one with the correct solution.


• The third one was by far the most difficult. It involved a table top maze that we had to navigate through avoiding a minotaur. Everyone contributed, but Delvanos came up with the correct solution.


• We then began our meeting with Fistan Nolro.

The Dread Tharizdun

• According to Fistan, Tharizdun is one of five children of the first beings in the universe. The other four were the Primal Kings of the Elements.


• Tharizdun is the offspring of Nothing. He was brought into being to return the universe to the state of nothingness. He will unmake the world. He is entropy.


• Wars waged before the reckoning of time between the Primal Kings and Tharizdun. Eventually, the Primal Kings turned their part in the war over to the Warmasters.


• These Warmasters are . . .


• Ogremach – Prince of Earth


• Olyhydra – Prince of Water


• Imix – Prince of Fire


• Yan-C-Bin – Prince of Air


• The Pantheon was watching from afar, and they realized that the war was not going well. Oerth was in danger of utter destruction.


• They sent emissaries to investigate. The Pantheon discovered that the Warmasters were in league with Tharizdun and he in effect was controlling both sides of the war.


• Two of the pantheon found the Hidden King, Tharizdun. They quickly entered into his court. They are Nerull, god of death, darkness and murder and Incabulos, god of plague, sickness and disaster.


• The Primal Kings were sleeping, when the Pantheon arrived.


• A great battle ensued against the fiends serving the Hidden King and the Pantheon.


• The Pantheon was on the verge of defeat, when Tharizdun emerged from his subterranean halls.


• As he was preparing to deal the death blow, the Primal Kings awoke from their slumber. They attacked Tharizdun and defeated him, but they were not able to destroy him. He was placed in a prison for eternity.


• The Pantheon did not want any one to worship the Hidden King, so they struck all record of him from written history. His fiendish army was cast into the lower planes.


• The archmage believes that Tharizdun’s worshippers contact him and gain power through ancient artifacts and shrines dedicated to him.


• The phrase “Seek the heart of the four moons and sunder the walls of my prison” was discovered in Fistan’s research. He believes that the cultists will use the binders to control the Elemental Princes, and the princes will free their father.


• The Elder Elemental Eye is a being from the Far Realms. His name is Vilpakf'cho Rentaq.


• The cultists at the original temple thought they were serving Iuz, Lolth and Zuggtmoy. They were in fact serving the Elder Eye.


• The deception was greater than this. Nolro believes that the Elder Eye is but an aspect of the Dread Tharizdun.

Campaign Journal #8 - In the Basement

Month of Patchwall

11th Day – Rastor

• We exited the crater ridge mines around midday. The countryside was covered in a blanket of snow.


• When we arrived in Rastor, we found out that Rerrid had left a few days earlier for Hommlet. Thandain said he was meeting with Cannoness Y’dey of the Cuthbertines, but she did not know the purpose of the meeting.


• Thandain also had a letter from Jorelu. He had news of their quest to unravel the mystery of the Crown Prince of Furyondy.


• We retrieved the horses from the grimlock cave, and we prepared for the long journey to Verbobonc.

12th through 17th – Travels

• The journey to Verbobonc was without incident until we neared the city.


• A guard post had been constructed along the High Road. The guards required identification and demanded to know our business.


• Delvanos used his silver tongue to assure them that we were not a threat.


• They said that there had been an increase in raids in the countryside around Verbobonc.


• We arrived in Verbobonc on the evening of the 17th.

18th Day – Matters of Business

• We spent most of the day selling off our considerable loot and finding out any news from the outside world.


• We heard that the Rook’s Cove, a fashionable inn in the River District, had been cleared out after several deaths at the establishment.


• A representative of the Riverwalk Society brought a letter to Delvanos inquiring about his interest in joining the group.

19th Day – More Business

• We spent some more time browsing through the various merchant shops and purchasing new gear. Vannay was busy scribing scrolls.


• A trip over to the Rook’s Cove was interesting. The town watch was stationed outside the inn.


• We spoke with Captain Galen, and he showed us the desiccated body of one of the people who tried to stop whatever had taken up residence in the hotel.


• We spoke with the Cuthbertines to secure permission to commune with the corpse.


• The owner of the inn, Ors Farson, said that a six thousand gold reward was offered for the removal of the creature.

20th Day – Clearing of the Cove

• The corpse was not able to give much information regarding its attacker. It did say that the creature had tentacles and it was not visible.


• We entered the hotel and journeyed into the wine cellar. Vannay’s little dragon was able to detect the presence of the creature, and Vannay identified it as an assassin jelly.


• It paralyzed Uthgar, but Victor was able to cure him.


• The creature was able to shrug off most of our physical attacks, but we killed it fairly quickly.


• The owner paid the reward and offered rooms at the inn that evening. Later he invited us to a dinner with Viscount Langard.


• Sovonich of Rhynehurst, the leader of the Riverwalk Society, also came to the dinner. Vannay and Delvanos joined the society as benefactors, and Delvanos said that when he completes his work he will join as a contributing member.


• The Viscount arrived with his entourage. He is the son of Wilfrick, who fought at Emridy Meadows and ruled over the county for many years.


• The Viscount showed interest in our adventures, and we shared some of what we know.


• At the end of the evening, the viscount presented us with wooden coins which marked us as “Friends of the Count”.

21st Day – News from Rerrid

• Vannay teleported the party back to Rastor the next morning.


• We met with Rerrid and shared news of our progress with him.


• Because of Hedrack’s threat, we setup a means for Rerrid to contact us in the event of an attack on Rastor.


• Rerrid told us about his meeting in Hommlet.


• Canoness Y’dey called the meeting because one of her agents had intercepted a message from some cultists regarding the discovery of the location of one of the fabled “binders”. (See journals #5 and #6)


• The meeting was attended by representatives of the church in Verbobonc.


• Y’dey is organizing a group to try and retrieve the binder before the cultists are able to. Rerrid could not remember where Y’dey said they are going.

22nd Day – Hydra

• We entered the ridge mines through the South Gate. Our plan is to find the dwarven temple, which Tarren said is located west of the Air Temple.


• We found a strange orb in the living quarters of Choranth, the former second in command of the Air Temple. Victor used his divine powers to destroy the orb, which had been used to control the bone bears.


• We journeyed west into the caves. We heard some noise some distance away, and the pseudodragon went to scout the area.


• The dragon reported that it saw an eleven headed hydra coming our way.


• We had time to prepare for the fight. It went better than expected, but the hound archon summoned by Vannay was crushed (or at least sent back to Celestia rather quickly).


• We then encountered the orc caves we had heard about in Rastor. We slew the male orcs and prevented the females from alerting any more of their clan.

News from Abroad

• The orc raids are coming from the Kron Hills, south of Verbobonc. They are much more aggressive than they have been in the past. There are a few different theories as to why they are acting now.


• It is possible that their numbers have increased, and they are trying to expand their area of influence.


• Another person suggested that the orcs of the Pomarj are supporting the attacks. Though why this would be is not known. They have not done this in the past. They usually keep their activities centered on Wooly Bay and raids into the Olven Kingdom of Celene.


• Rumors have also surfaced about a separatist movement in Veluna. Again nothing concrete is known about the nature of these separatists.


• Some have suggested it is members of the Scarlet Brotherhood planning a coup. If it is the brotherhood, it seems more likely that they will use this as an attempt to gain a greater foothold in the ruling council.


• Others have said it is agents of Iuz working to ensure that Veluna will not come to the aid of Furyondy in their eternal war against Old Wicked.

Spotlight on Verbobonc
Verbobonc began as a gnomish settlement along the banks of the Velverdyva. It enjoyed a good location and a very favorable climate. This suited the needs of the agrarian minded gnomes quite well. They erected a small fort of earth and wood along the riverbanks, and it was named Verboek.

The Suel invasions caused a flurry of activity in the region, and it led to a population boom. The gnomes allied with the elves of the Gnarley Wood, but it was not until the Olven Kingdom of Celene came to their aid that the Suloise forces were routed. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Karym Delph in 4280 O.C (C.Y. -182). The treaty established Verboek as a protectorate of Celene.

The Kron Hills and Gnarley Wood were wild and lawless in these days. Fort Verboek was not sufficient for the needs of the people, and plans were drawn up for a much larger fort. In C.Y. 8, the new fort was completed and it was named Verbobonc. Which in the gnomish tongue means New Verboek.

In C.Y. 145 the Overking of the Aerdy (Great Kingdom), annexed Verbobonc and the surrounding lands. They had created the Viceroyalty of Ferrond 45 years earlier. The Olven King did not wish further trouble, and they ignored their protectorate with a policy of isolationism. The Overking stationed an entire legion in Verbobonc to put a check on the elves to the south and the dwarves of the Lortmils.

Over the next century, the town grew to about 15,000 inhabitants. The gnomes of the Kron Hills fought tenaciously against the legion during this time, and eventually gained an uneasy truce.

When inner turmoil rocked the Great Kingdom, the legion was withdrawn. In 240 C.Y. the Republic of Verbobonc was established under the joint rule of the gnomes and humans. It was under senatorial rule, and all laws required approval by the citizen assembly. In practice however, the citizens always voted along the lines of their particular patron in the senate.

In 254 C.Y. the Kingdom of Furyondy established its independence from the Great Kingdom. The nobles of Furyondy longed for the wealth of Verbobonc, but the gnomish control over the Kron Hill mines kept them in check. This state of affairs lasted for around one hundred years until Keoland made their bid for expansion across the Lortmils. Furyondy saw this as their opportunity, and they marched on Verbobonc in 382 C.Y. and easily took the city. This marked the end of the Republic of Verbobonc. In retrospect, this annexation probably saved Verbobonc. Keoland laid siege to the city in 412 C.Y., and if the Furyondian army had not been there it surely would have fallen.

Verbobonc was then established as a county of Furyondy. Lord Ramsi was named Viscount over the region, and this familial line has continued until the present. The gnomes of the Kron Hills showed their defiance to the situation by establishing their own noble line. The gnomish prince was given a seat on the viscount’s advisory council. The gnomes also fought against the law requiring land ownership in voting, and they eventually triumphed. Even though most of them live outside Verbobonc, they always flood the town during mayoral elections.

In 529 C.Y., Furyondy granted independence to Verbobonc. The viscount maintained his royal title, but much of the old republican structure was restored. Viscount Wilfrick was a hero at the Battle of Emridy Meadows in 569 C.Y., and Verbobonc was poised to become a major player in the politics of the Flanaess. This was not to be though.

Verbobonc took the safe road during the northern Greyhawk Wars in the 580’s and they did not send aid to the orc wars raging in the south. It is not known whether this was Wilfrick’s old age keeping him from action or if it was his advisory council, but the only major action he took was the building of a fortified keep in the village of Hommlet.

The disputed claims of Langard, the bastard son of Wilfrick, in 589 C.Y. caused increased turmoil within Verbobonc and without. Few people recognized him as the legitimate heir, but he has proven to be a good ruler. He maintains a good relationship with the Lord Mayor, and his piety is a plus among the religious minded folk of Verbobonc. His main goals thus far have been to improve relations with Veluna and Furyondy. Time will tell on how successful his endeavors are.

As of today, Verbobonc and its 35,000 people still maintain a strong economical position in the central Flanaess. They have been largely ignored by Furyondy and Veluna since the Greyhawk wars, and they maintain cordial if not strong relations with Celene to the south. Under strong leadership and a major reorganization of the army, the county could once again vie for that position of importance they have long sought after.

Campaign Journal #7 - Water and Fire

Month of Patchwall

4th Day – After the Hags

• Rested on the west bank of the hag lake after dispatching the evil creatures.

5th Day – Schemes of Water

• We found an underwater cave beneath the lake. A man and a woman bearing Water Temple symbols were shackled to the cave wall. The man was muttering incoherently, and the woman could speak but was completely sapped of her strength.


• Carried the two with us over to the east bank of the lake. Korthalis heard some talking coming from the north branch of the cave network.


• Discovered a group of Water Temple guards practicing their archery. They didn’t seem wary of us because of our temple garb.


• Their captain believed that we were there to speak with the high priestess, and escorted us part of the way to her throne room.


• Oli forged a note explaining that we were going to help the Water Temple with their plans.


• Met with Kelashein (human priest), Nilbool (Kuo-toa) and Oomkaan (Kuo-toa with demonic heritage). Nilbool explained the plan of sending a strike force against the Fire Temple in an attempt to cripple the most powerful temple.


• Oli overheard Oomkaan whisper to Kelashein not to trust us. Kelashein did not react to his warning.


• Rested that night in the throne room. Night passed without incident.

6th Day – The Longest Day

• The strike force assembled early in the morning. It consisted of Nilbool, Urlurg (Kuo-toan Monitor), four Kuo-toan warriors and our party.


• Using magic, we walked across the surface of the crater lake to what Nilbool identified as the Eastern Bridge Complex.


• Nilbool negotiated with the bridge captain, Eeridik (lycanthropic rat) for our safe passage through his complex.


• Crossed the seal marking the south entrance to the Fire Temple. It was trapped but the monitor easily evaded the danger.


• Fought two salamanders and a hell hound guarding the temple door.


• Entered the temple and discovered Tessimon standing on a platform hovering over a massive pit engulfed in flames. She seemed to be aware of our intentions.


• Vannay and the kuo-toa noticed a group of invisible men flanking the barghest we initially encountered in the Northern Bridge Complex.


• The battle was evenly matched, but we gained the upper hand after a time. All the forces of fire were slain with no losses on our side.


• We turned on the kuo-toa, but Nilbool and Urlurg managed to escape with a teleport.


• It was then that the second wave of Fire Temple guards attacked. They were led by a gnome, Firre Oranac. The guards were riding large hellhounds and wielding lances.


• In our already weakened state this battle was difficult, but we put them down after some fierce melee and several arrows from Delvanos’ powerful bow.


• Vannay created his shelter, and we prepared to bed down for the night.


• Our sleep was interrupted by Eeredik and two dragon trolls entering the temple. They were retrieving the fallen high priestess, Tessimon.


• Delvanos led the negotiations with the bridge captain, but most everyone contributed. In the end, he left most of her items and kept her body.


• We bedded down again to get some well deserved rest.

7th Day – The Eastern Bridge

• The next morning we made our plans to assault the Eastern Bridge Complex and recover Tessimon’s corpse.


• We began the short trek north to the complex and discovered they had a scout watching for us.


• We made our way into the main portion of the complex and an invisible wall of force split our party in two. The front half of the group did battle with the invisible Eeridik, the tattooed monk and one of the dragon trolls. The rear half battled the other troll.


• When the dragon trolls fell, both the monk and Eeridik escaped down the northern passage.


• Eeridik caused a massive demon spider called a bebilith to appear. Then he began taunting us to come face him.


• Deciding that we were already depleted on spells and health, we made our way back to the Fire Temple to sleep.


• The night passed without incident.

8th Day – Bushwhack

• Vannay used his divination magic to scout out the complex before we moved on the complex again.


• Eeridik could not be found, but the monk and a troglodyte priest were seen in the main room.


• We launched our assault on them, and we quickly put them down. Then we waited for Eeridik to return.


• He never had a chance this time around. He was killed quickly.


• We discovered a note on his body from Varachan. It explained that our party was “hemmed in” by the forces surrounding us.


• The lake was being watched by the Water Temple.


• North of the complex was the bugbear clan.


• South of the complex was the powerful sound beasts. Vannay thought these might be destrachans.


• We decided on the southern route, which would lead us to the South Gate and out of the temple.


• Tragedy struck our party when we were searching the living quarters of the bridge guardians. Oli was turned to stone by a vicious trap on the chest in Eeridik’s room.


• We camped that night in the Fire Temple, and the night passed without incident.

9th Day – Forces of Fire

• Our first task was the destruction of the temple altar.


• Uthgar smashed it several times with his urgosh and every time it seemed as if the altar was trying to stop him.


• After the altar was smashed the entire room became engulfed in smoke and began to collapse. We exited with all due haste.


• Making our way south through the temple, we encountered a group of fiery spiders called rasts and fought several bigger than average mephits in a room filled with smoke.


• We found a stone column with a brazier on it at the southern entrance to the temple, but decided to leave it be.


• Upon exiting the temple, we were ambushed by five deadly spider creatures, who dropped down on us.


• They grappled several of our party and began drinking our blood. Nearly all of us were severely weakened by this permanent blood loss, but we killed them.


• We made camp at this point.

10th Day – Tarren and the Big Dead Bear

• The next morning we began traveling generally south and west.


• In a cave filled with fungi, spores and other underground flora, we met Tarren. He did register as evil, when Victor checked but he didn’t seem threatening.


• He seemed particularly sad about the passing of his bear companion, Kimbo.


• Tarren said that he had no allegiance to the temple, and he would give us information for a price. We negotiated the price and he did share some very useful information.


• The temples and their corresponding bridges are purposefully kept apart from one another. This encourages fighting between the factions.


• The priests of the Outer Fane apparently do not worship the Elder Elemental Eye. Their symbol is the black obex.


• In the center of the Outer Fane is a black tower. The Doomdreamers reside here. This is the inner fane.


• The high priest of the Outer Fane, Hedrack is looking for something or someone.


• The leaders of the Doomdreamers are known as the Triad.


• The Triad consists of three beings.


• The Third is the child of Yan-C-Bin, the Prince of Evil Air.


• Yan-C-Bin is one of four children of the Elder Eye.


• The Second is an aboleth.


• The First is a very old human.


• For his helpful information, Delvanos gave him more money than the original bargain.


• After this we moved on and encountered one of the destrachans.


• Victor protected the party with silence, and the battle was much easier than expected.


• After this we found a scrap of a dwarven journal. It mentioned that the resting place of the “eye” was near.


• We entered the forge that the Kuluth-Dun clan used, and it was haunted by an old dwarven spirit. The ghostly being, known as a blade spirit, used its powers to attack us with several dwarven axes at once.


• We continued the journey and found ourselves in a difficult battle against what appeared to be several cloakers. We found out that only two of them were real, and the rest had been created out of the shadows.


• One of them managed to envelop Uthgar, and we had difficulty killing it without killing our companion.


• We rested again knowing that the South Gate was very close.

11th Day – Insects from Hell

• We made our way towards the exit early the next morning. Our hopes of exiting through the “spectre room” were stymied, because the passageway was filled with stone.


• Uthgar went to the platform overlooking the southern entrance and saw two men sitting near the door. One of them was Kellial, the gate captain who had bargained for his life on the promise of not returning to the temple.


• The party prepared to attack the two men. Delvanos and Korthalis positioned themselves on the platform, while the rest of the party stood in the barbican.


• We began the attack, but the two men were completely unresponsive.


• When Victor moved to grapple Kellial, the deposed captain began to speak in a voice that was not his. Vannay recognized the voice as that of Hedrack.


• He referred to our group as young initiates, whose destruction in the temple was worship to his god.


• He warned us that if we continued our attack on the temple, the town of Rastor would be “brought low”.


• Some of the more observant party members noticed scratches and welts on the exposed skin of the men. Vannay saw something crawling under the skin of one of the men.


• The men opened their mouths and thousands of ruby red wasps began issuing forth. Vannay recognized them as hellwasps.


• The swarms were impervious to our weapons, and they caused dizziness and nausea when we were in their midst. Some of us were poisoned by their attacks.


• Vannay managed to deal considerable damage with a cone of cold before nearly being killed by the wasps. Delvanos’ lightning arrows were effective as well.


• After an inauspicious beginning (a jump/fall off the platform), Korthalis took the brunt of their attacks. He spared the other weakened party members from being overcome.


• Uthgar moved to open the gate to the outside, but it was trapped with a chain lightning. Everyone including the wasps were hit hard by the electrical charge.


• After healing Vannay, Delvanos jumped gracefully off the platform and saved Victor from certain death with his curing ability.


• Vannay destroyed one of the swarms with his magic missiles.


• Victor, now safely healed, called upon hid god and smote the hellborn wasps with the swift judgement of Kord.


• The battle ended with some of us still poisoned, but everyone alive.

Outside News - Our long delve into the mines has not allowed us to keep track of the events transpiring outside of the ridge mines.

Campaign Journal #6 - The Northern Bridge

1st to the 4th day of Patchwall, C.Y. 591

Gate and Dragon

1. Party battles the gate captain Mereclar, his Howler mount and the freaky ogre, Wormspike at the Main Gate.


2. A rogue named Oli comes upon the party with a wild tale about a green dragon west of the Main Gate. He (Oli not the dragon) joins the party.

The Northern Bridge Complex

1. The group returned to the area east of the Earth Temple and encountered a group of ferocious apes. Made camp that evening in their lair.


2. Party encounters the kobold detail at the Northern Bridge. Oli manages to free their pet chimera.


3. The surviving kobolds alert Oomarthis, the duergar Bridge Captain, and his barghest companion. The bridge forces are routed, but the barghest escapes.


4. A messenger on his way to the Water Temple is intercepted by the party. With a little persuasion, he surrenders his letter to the group. It is addressed to Kelashein, High Priestess of Water, and it is from someone in the Outer Fane named Varachan. Along with the letter is a scroll of disintegrate.


5. Vannay realizes there is a coded message within the letter. It is from “a friend” and it says to help “water quench fire”. It also mentions something about “holding the keys”.

Through the Looking Glass

1. Party returns to the grimlock cave, and Vannay begins scrying on the author of the letter.


2. Vannay sees three people beginning some sort of ceremony. One of them (the one being scried) is a man in his early thirties. The next one is an older man with hard features and gray hair. Both of them wear symbols of the black obex. The third is a comely younger woman with a symbol of the Elder Elemental Eye with a red diamond hanging beneath it. They are all wearing purple and black cloaks with the black obex embroidered on it. The room they are in appears to be quite cold, because their breath is clearly visible.


3. The woman begins reading from a scroll handed to her by the older man. She said, “Dread Tharizdun, power of the Elder Eye, I, Tessimon Dephnami Ignatia, am Champion of Elemental Evil. I am here to do your bidding.” After speaking these words, she is enveloped in black fire and falls to the ground. She appears to be still alive.


4. At this point, the older man sees the sensor. He writes a warning against further action by the party and shows it to the sensor. He then begins casting Locate Creature. At this point the younger man leaves the room.


5. On the return trip to the mines, the barghest shows back up and begins attacking. The party has him at the point of death, but he is able to dimension door away (again).

Ladies of the Lake

1. The party returns to the NBC and encounters a huge three-armed giant looking creature. He gives them a good fight, but Victor manages to stun him. Delvanos then is able to bring him down with his archery skills.


2. The party begins traveling east towards the Water Temple. They find a group of blood-soaked corpses and follow the grisly trail to a nest of Owlbears. The party has little difficulty dispatching them.


3. The party then finds a large pool. What appears to be a young woman, begins asking them for help. She is on a column in the center of the lake. The party prepares for water combat, and begins crossing. A hideous female creature tries to drag Uthgar under the water, but is not successful. The group quickly realizes that these “ladies” have a powerful gaze attack, so they close their eyes. Uthgar manages to close with the one on the column and kill her.


4. Vannay was severely weakened by the appearance of the other woman, but not before he is able to summon a shark. The shark combined with the efforts of other party members is able to slay the creature.

Report from the Council Arcanum – Part Two
By Tulliver Brandeen

The capture of the Elemental Princes using the binders is reckoned by historians as the beginning of the Suloise Imperium. The binders passed in and out of history for the next millennia. Power passed between the Suloise Houses, and it is believed that the ones controlling the binders held the power.

The tribes of Bakluni chafing under the yoke of the Suel, unite in order to secure their freedom. These events occurred in 3971 S.D. (Suloise Dominion), which was sixteen centuries before Common Year One. During the War of Seven Score Nights, one of the binders is captured by the Bakluni Chieftan. The mere threat of using it, ended the war and caused the Suel to cede a major portion of their northern territories to the Bakluni.

Over the next milennia, war was widespread between the Bakluni and Suel. The Suloise Imperium was slowly falling into corruption and decay. Large groups of peoples fled the wartorn areas and settled in the Vale of Luna and surrounding lands during this time.

In 5031 S.D. (-466 C.Y.) the Great War begins with the slaughter of nine thousand Baklunish soldiers in Salhaut Pass. The next sixty years sees a degree of slaughter and high magic heretofore unknown. Finally, the most powerful of the Suel Mages gather their magics and unleash the Invoked Devastation upon the Bakluni. Every city was razed to the ground. Thousands upon thousands perished in this display of arcane might. A group of Baklunish priests gathered at the Tovag Baragu, the holiest of Bakluni sites. It is believed that they used the power of the binders to release the Rain of Colorless fire upon the Suel. The priests were consumed in their efforts and Tovag Baragu was no more.

The Suloise Empire had stood for over five milennia. All other civilizations were dwarfed by its arcane power and longevity. What remains of this once great land is now marked by cartographers as the Sea of Dust.

Campaign Journal #5 - Battle for the Earth Temple

9th day of Harvester to the 1st day of Brewfest, C.Y. 591

2nd Battle for the Earth Temple

1. Reeling from the battle in the Earth Temple, Delvanos and Vannay fled the Crater Ridge Mines. Rerrid and Thandain were very eager to help recover the bodies of Durnegar, Uthgar and Tyrin.


2. Once again the party made their way past the main gate and proceeded to the temple. The Xorn once again proved itself a formidable opponent, but a host of summoned Celestial Archons and Fiendish Wolves proved to be the difference. The arcane priest marshalling the forces of evil was also felled.


3. The session ended with the recovery of the fallen comrades and the discovery of a letter to the Earth High Priest from Hedrack, who referred to himself as Master of the Outer Fane.

Overland and Undermountain

1. Thandain destroyed the altar sitting atop the stone ziggurat, which caused the collapse of the temple. A similar event occurred, when the Air Temple altar was destroyed.


2. The party returned to Rastor with the bodies, and then prepared for the journey to Verbobonc.


3. Vannay and Delvanos sold off the loot, and then went to the Temple of Kord to find Victor. Victor was eager to join the party for the further exploration of the Crater Ridge Mines.


4. The trip to the Northern Lortmils was without incident. A dwarven sentry post met the party shortly after entering the range. They agreed to escort the party to the home of the Khannenhelms. They warned of recent attacks by a group of humanoids known as “Dragon Children” or “Sons of the White”.


5. The leader of the Khannenhelm dwarves, who met the party, was the grandson of Durnegar. He took the party to meet with Realgar, the High Priest of Moradin. Realgar was pleased with the effort to bring his kinsmen home.


6. Realgar performed the prayers necessary to return Uthgar to the living. At dinner that night, he introduced Korthalis to the party. Realgar asked the party if Korthalis might accompany the party back to the ruins of Kuluth-Dun. Everyone agreed.


7. The next morning funeral services were held for Durnegar in Khannen-Dor, the Great Hall of the Undermountain. A memorial feast was to be held later in the day, but the party had already departed for their long return trip.


8. The session ended just prior to an attack by these dragonkin in the high mountain pass.

Curses

1. The battle went well against the dragonkin. The party countered the aerial advantage of the dragonkin by the use of ranged attacks, flying and a bit of grappling.


2. Vannay was contacted by the Arcane Consortium in Verbobonc. He was informed that the Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location was in fact an Amulet of Inescapable Location. He was told that if he wanted to do further magical business in Verbobonc, then the payment for the amulet would have to be returned.


3. The party arrived safely in Verbobonc and met with the head of the Arcane Consortium. They returned the gold and kept the cursed amulet.

Report from the Council Arcanum – Part One
By Tulliver Brandeen

For the first time in two years, the Council Arcanum has convened in Mitrik. The relative peace across the Flanaess has allowed scholars and mages to gather and share knowledge. The conference commenced on Dark Night and will end during the high point of Brewfest.

One of the first speakers, Fistan Nolro, was of particular interest, as his research has delved into the events leading up to the Twin Cataclysms. True records of these events have been lost to time, but countless theories abound as to what brought about the destruction. Nolro is a proponent of the “binder theory”.

It is known that at the dawn of the Suloise Imperium, the Suel sought to conquer the island nation of Ana-Keri. The islanders knew that their outrigger fleet was no match for the armada of the Suel. They called upon the elemental forces they worshipped to stop the invasion. The entire island of Ana-Keri was surrouned by a maelstrom of wind and raging seas. The Suel fleet was crushed by the elemental princes protecting the island. The few armies that did beach were defeated by “columns of fire” and “great chasms in the earth”.

Lord Obender, chief of all Suel mages, gathered the most powerful wizards to him to research a way to deal with these powerful elemental forces. One gifted young sorceress, Ibenala, came forward with a solution. She crafted four special prisons called binders to capture the elemental princes. These binders along with other magic could be used to control the elementals. One by one the princes were trapped by the binders. The destruction of Ana-Keri was swift and without mercy.

Ibenala authored a complex tome detailing the use and control of the binders. She then disappeared from sight along with the tome and the binders. Several theories abound as to the identity of Ibenala. The majority view holds that she is the dragonlord Tiamat.

To be continued . . .

Campaign Journal #4 - Requiem

8th Day of Harvester, C.Y. 591

Requiem
Hail the Sons of Earth
And cunning lass of mirth
Evil has held sway
Darkness covers day

In deep and dark stone hall
Foul priests of Elder Eye
Did issue forth their call
And from the earth came nigh

A beast of primal power
With skin of hardened stone
In form and face most dour
And teeth to pierce the bone

To save the elfmaid’s friend
The heroes did their best
Though they could not fend
Their valor met the test

One gave his life to save
One cut down where he stood
One pierced by lizard glaive
All gave their lives to good

Hail the Sons of Earth
And cunning lass of mirth
Evil holds no sway
From darkness comes the day

Campaign Journal #3 - In the Earth Temple

8th Day of Harvester, C.Y. 591

Last Session

1. A group of troglodytes confronted the party about killing their pet manticore. Vannay blasted the entire group with an empowered fireball. All but their warrior leader was killed in the inferno.


2. The leader challenged Uthgar to a duel, and Uthgar slew him. The leader wielded a greatsword with a brown triangle set into the pommel. This sword looked somewhat similar to the sword recovered in the Air Temple, which had a silver circle on it.


3. The party explored the living quarters of one of the troglodytes, and Tyrin found a secret stash of items.


4. An earth mephit was caught spying on the party, and Durnegar commanded him to go and warn Uskathoth, High Priest of Earth, that the Fire Temple is attacking.


5. Uskathoth and three mephits returned and attacked the party. The party defeated the Earth Priest without casualty.

Food Prices Hit New High
Excerpt of article in the Furyondy Beacon, 4th Day of Reaping, C.Y. 591
Officials in the Viscounty of the March confirmed the grain shortages due to the crop blight have reached dire levels. The neighboring Barony of Littleberg is also experiencing similar problems. Lord Marten, advisor to King Belvor IV, said, “The March is the breadbasket of Furyondy. The coming winter will be difficult even if the problem is resolved.”

Clerics of Rao in Pantarn have suggested that the famine is not of natural origins. An unidentified source suggested that Iuz the Old is behind it. Other scholars have dismissed this possibility, saying it is “unlikely”. Archmage Tulliver Brandeen spoke at a recent conference stating, “Everyone is quick to blame Old Wicked for anything that goes wrong. His power base has fled, and he is but a shadow of his former self.”

The rise in grain costs, due to increased imporation, has made life difficult for families and businesses alike. The looming spectre of winter is drawing closer.

News of the Strange
From the Stargazer Flash
A man was arrested in Verbobonc last Waterday. He was charged with breaking into the home of a local resident and stealing a family heirloom valued at over 800 wheatsheafs. Also taken in the robbery were several bottles of mead of an unknown value. He was arrested while in the process of trying to melt down the silver statue at a local smithy. It appears that he was severaly intoxicated at the time of arrest, and he had severe burns on his hands and left arm. He was quoted by the arresting officer as saying, “They’re coming! They’re coming! We must be ready. Can’t you see that?” Officials declined to comment on the meaning of his statement.

Campaign Journal #2 - At the Main Gate

8th Day of Harvester, C.Y. 591

Last Session

1. Tyrin, Vannay, Kylovar and Uthgar arrive in Verbobonc. Merchant guilds give reward for the body of Verneas Kohl, leader of the Moon Bandits.


2. Tyrin receives healing for the lycanthrope curse and filth fever disease.


3. Those remaining in Rastor spend the next month healing the town of tanbrosh addiction.


4. Party returns to Rastor, except Kylovar who remains in Verbobonc.


5. Failed scrying attempt on Myrliket.


6. Party disguises themselves as priests of the EEE and enters the main gate of the Crater Ridge Mines. The gate captain, a half-elf named Mereclar, tells the party how to get to the Water Temple.


7. Session ends with a battle in the Earth Temple against a manticore.

Spotlight on Veluna
Nestled between the Fals River and the Velverdyva lies the Vale of Luna. According to the precepts of Rao, The Lord of Peace, this is the most sacred of his lands. Oeridians, seeking to flee the Invoked Devastation, encountered tribes living in this valley and settled here. The two cultures merged over time and both revered Rao. In C.Y. 9, divinations revealed the location of the most sacred religious artifact, the Crook of Rao. When this relic was recovered they founded a city on that spot and named it Mitrik, which means salvation. The country of Veluna was formed.

The borders of the Great Kingdom of Aeridi spread and Veluna and Furyondy were on the frontiers of the kingdom. Veluna and Furyondy remained vassals of the Great Kingdom until C.Y. 254, when Thrommel I was crowned King of Furyondy. With the assistance of Canon Hermiod of Laudine, Thrommel I declared Furyondy and Veluna independent of the Great Kingdom. Things remained peaceful for the next fifty years until a dispute arose concerning the trade caravans and persistent bandits. Furyondy did not move to quell the banditry, and the nobles of Veluna felt Furyondy felt betrayed by their neighbors. A major rift had opened.

In C.Y. 350, King Tavish II of Keoland decided to test this rift. He marched his army across the Lorridges and seized the western portion of Veluna. The King of Furyondy protested loudly, but not one troop crossed the Velverdyva to aid Veluna. The Crook of Rao was lost to the invaders and the whole of Veluna was threatened until an uneasy peace was formed by ceding much of the western lands to Keoland. This peace lasted until C.Y. 415, when Keoish forces once again invaded. They threatened annexation of Veluna by C.Y. 436. Furyondy could not ignore this new threat and in two short years, Keoish forces were driven from Veluna, restoring the occupied lands.

A group of orthodox Cuthbertine Overseers met to discuss the future of Veluna in C.Y. 446. Many felt that Furyondy was not a true ally, and they resented their influence. All ties between Veluna and Furyondy were formally severed.

In C.Y. 569, Veluna and Furyondy joined together to aid the free city of Verbobonc in putting down the evil hordes of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Prince Thrommel IV, Provost of Veluna and Marshall of Furyondy, led the armies to victory at Emridy Meadows. After this great victory, there was much talk in both countries of a wedding between Prince Thrommel and Jolene, daughter of a Velunan noble. This wedding would have gone a long way in reuniting the two countries and beginning an era of peace unknown for many centuries, but it never took place. In C.Y. 573, the Crown Prince disappeared while campaigning in the south. Jolene disappeared from public view and talks of reunification ceased.

Today, Veluna is a beacon of hope and stability in an unstable time. The Crook of Rao, which was lost during the Keoland invasion, has been recovered. The Canon, with the help of the Archmage Bigby, used the Crook to invoke the Flight of Fiends, which purged most demons from the Flanaess. Veluna and Furyondy have both declared eternal war against the forces of Iuz the Old. Veluna sends much of its support across the Velverdyva to aid Furyondy in these wars. The noble families of Veluna resent this support, because they remember how Furyondy stood by when Keoland invaded many years ago. Regardless, the Canon and his church support these wars. Whatever the future holds, the light of Veluna stands strong against the forces of evil.