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.