A Hitchless Plan!

We have our plan set. Potions of water breathing and invisibility will be used to allow us to be in the water, and then to follow those who are present in the water to collect the, unbeknownst to them, trapped box with the light spell cast on it. Oh, and our Druid plans on being a shark! Then we will follow them until we can collect Rayhan and put paid to this Father Jackal person.

So, the plan seems to be working. We are in the water, and Blaze, my beautiful wife's magically bonded winged friend drops the box into the water from above. The splash alerts us, and the glowing box is easily followed as it sinks to the bottom. And within mere minutes a group of five humanoid creatures that are most definitely aquatic in nature, just slightly smaller than an average sized adult male human come swimming to the box. The collect it and depart, and as per the plan, we follow. The journey isn't long, about 10 minutes, when a crack in the underwater cliff face is seen, and the creatures, sahuagin I believe them to be from stories I have heard from fellow travelers that I have talked with in the past. And sure enough, they enter. We follow. 

The cleft turns into an underground passage that leads to a grotto with a small beach are on its north side. Where four out of the five now sit. The fifth carrying the box I presume as I no longer see it seems to have gone past this area, through one of two doors that can be seen from where we are in the water.

I decide to move silently out of the water and beyond the four guarding creatures to try to see if I can follow the path taken by the one carrying the box with the forged scroll. I get by them and easily track the missing creature to the door heading northward, the other door leading to the west. Apparently Spring and Connie followed me out, and one of my invisible companions decided to alert Alri, who had remained in his form of a shark and thus still in the water. A splash of the tossed rock also id heard by the four aquatic humanoids, one of which slips back into he water.

I see a perfect opportunity to ambush the remaining three. Pulling Tempest, I swing it and bisect one, slicing from left shoulder through to its right hip. This action also dispels my invisibility and now the creatures can clearly see me. As the newly made carcass into its two now separate pieces, the other two rise to their feet. The melee starts in earnest. While Connie engages in combat with one of them, I cut down another. I hear my wife's voice casting protective spells behind me. May the Gods bless her, she is learning to leave the hacking and slashing bits to myself and the others more suited for the brutality that is close combat. Meanwhile, Connie and I finish the last one that is here on the beach.

I then see Alri come out of the water as himself, bleeding some, but alone. I assumed he had finished off the one in the water. I was wrong, for it rushes up behind Alri, attacking him from the water with its trident. I jump into the water, and even with the handicap of swinging a blade in the water, slice deeply into it, stilling its threat to us.

Now all four are deceased, and a quick search finds very little of value. We move on. Or we would, except the door is firmly locked. But I had foreseen this potential problem. Going onto a headquarters of a merchant guild, I was sure that locks would be an issue that would need to be surmounted, so I spent a large amount of coin on a wand that my verne would be able to use, or in a pinch I have some training in using these devices. So presenting her a gift of a wand of Knock was fun. Of course, when I surprise her with the emerald necklace and earrings sometime in our future I expect that I will be on the receiving end of a very pleasant surprise of my own!

So through the door, down a short hall and then through a room. There is a hall leading to the west and one to the north. The trail continues north, and so we also go north. This leads to a unholy chapel that has a horrible stench coming from it. Bodies! Many many decaying and rotting bodies lay scattered about this room. But three of them rise. Some form of undead creatures. But Connie, using on the Divine might of her Deity Iomedae obliterates them. All I could do was admire the swift totality of their destruction!

Continuing on, we see a door at the end of the corridor that we are heading through open and a group of six humans, guards, I believe come into the hall. I immediate stop and wait for what I know will be coming.

And then a small glowing pebble of fire streaks past my head heading swiftly to the group of people. Then with a explosive Whoosh!, It burst into a ball of fire that fills that end of the corridor. When the fire recedes, three of them are clearly dead, and the remaining three are hurt. Spring has sprung indeed! Moving swiftly, I close on on, and with a precise strike I end one. Connie summons a mystical blade and strikes another one down. The remaining one react by pulling hand crossbow and despite my wife's magical copies confusing the senses, manages to strikes her true self. Al rolls a summoned ball of flame down at him, but he dodges. Then Spring fires a small stream of frost at him from the tip of one dainty finger, and it is just enough to put him down. I don't think anyone notices, but I slip Tempest's sharp tip into his ribs and make sure he won't recover from his swoon anytime soon. Hurt my mela, will you? Well not again you won't!

o0o

Verbiage from the Well of Spring… (dry it may be…)

Shopping all day and then being greeted and told we are no longer welcome because we fought intruders that meant us harm took its toll on our physical being and we found a quiet corner of the keep to actually rest and refresh our bodies, all the while keeping a vigilant watch, lest we be infiltrated again.

The day was hot so snuggling with my husband in a cool inner room was quite acceptable to me, and, I assume him. Of course, clothes make it even hotter. That box of talcum I purchased in the market certainly was fun spreading over our perspiring skin. I think we might have used less if we’d simply stopped at just tickling each other with the soft, lamb’s wool poof, but, well, one thing led to another, and we are married… I do not recommend kissing the body after the powder is applied. It tastes just awful!

But the way our skin moved silkily against the other’s was very pleasant, just as the sly sales lady had whispered when she conned me out of a silver coin! Worth every copper! I imagine, had we not brushed it from our faces before we met with the others, we could have frightened them into thinking we were ghosts! What fun that could have been!

After enjoying my husband’s particular vocation, we fell asleep, awaiting the appointed hour.

Waking and preparing ourselves for the night’s adventure, we left with plenty of time to reach the water’s edge before sunset.

I instructed Blaze, gave her the string holding the box Connie prepared, together and coached her where to drop it. We waited until time, then swallowed our potions of invisibility and underwater breathing, slipped into the water and started our journey.

It was an unnerving trek as the water grew darker, the weeds and fish tickled my legs. I am not the best of swimmers, and being fairly buoyant I found it intriguing trying to stay under the water, but I managed by holding Kiril whenever I felt like I was lifting off. We arrived at the location, or near enough and shortly after, Blaze dropped the box and it began sinking to the sandy bottom.

It no sooner touched down when five Mer-Warriors? Greenish-grey webbed footed and handed creatures with like fins ruffling out from their heads. (Cauliflower ears?) Anyhow, these fish-of-some-type swam up. One of them picked up the box and they quickly began to scuttle off with it.

We followed, at a respectable distance. Al, playful shark that he had become, chose not to alert them to his presence just yet.

It was fairly simple to follow them across the ocean floor, the box glowing with the light spell. A rocky crag appeared and they swam right into it and it wasn’t until we got close that we saw a rough corridor leading through. We followed cautiously.

We soon arrived in a cave and the creatures climbed from the pool, one of them heading off down a hall. We pondered our options and, there was no way around it, after trying to follow the fellow, we had to alert Al to exit, change back to his normal form and come with us.

I threw a rock in the water to catch his attention. Not smart.

You know, for a clever person, I seem to be pretty dumb sometimes. The splosh caught the attention of the weird fish-men and, although we were still invisible, the fish-dudes thought there was ‘supper’ in the pond and one dove in with the intent on spearing supper… I think Al, in shark-form, surprised him a tad.

Meanwhile we had our own battle on land, as the others noticed us, or we attracted their attention, either way, Kiril became visible, then Connie, as they battled the three fishy-guys. By the time I was ready to help, casting mAge armour and then mirror image, my assistance was not required. But it was fun dancing about, invisible while my mirror images were fully visible! I think, done correctly, this could confuse and bewilder an army of miscreants!

Al finished his battle, beached himself and returned to a fairly respectable person. We followed the footprints of the one who’d carried off the lighted trap-box.

Now, I don’t remember if we opened the door, or if we fought the next set of creatures first. I think the door. It was locked firm. Kiril surprised me with a beautifully decorated wand, with strange circular markings and the word ‘Hitachi’ inscribed on the hilt. Smiling I aimed the wand at the door, “Knock knock, Hitachi calling…” I wonder if this means he doesn’t have the necklace set… hmmm…

The door groaned then popped open.

Then we met some more creatures… A whole room full of rotting, stinking, gross, squishy, dead bodies. Only some of them weren’t so dead.

A wonderful blast by Connie levelled half of them before we’d even gotten going! My carefully constructed images disappeared just when I could have used them most and I attracted the attention

of two of these battle-hardened fighters. I survived their onslaught, and, in the end, finished off the last with a simple frosty ray. Of course, he had been considerably weakened by the other’s attentions or the frost would merely have chilled him…

Now we hear something and are not sure what is around that corner or behind that door…

I hope Blaze is enjoying herself in the sun while we toil here, under the sea…

o0o

Kapesh! We're here!

Verbiage from the Well of Spring…

Well it was certainly a wonderfully exciting day! All the sights, smells and colours! I can’t wait until Kalmarane grows, although, it is nice having it smaller – we know so many more of the people!

I have now enough fabric and notions (buttons, lace, thread, needles and the such) that I will have a huge wardrobe when we return! Maybe even four abayas! Of course, not in the traditional black – ugh! I think I will enjoy many many hijabs as well! Kiril may snort at his new wardrobe, but I have also purchased some material to fashion a few new dishdashes and keffiyehs. It was exciting to find that new, braided agal in bright colours too! Now he will have a formal, un-traditional outfit to wear for the opportunities when we must visit dignitaries. My handsome Oahrd. (I know he is going to laugh when he sees that! I cannot remember the Elvish spelling of things! Drats!)

OH! And that necklace set, the one with the emeralds that Kiril says match my eyes, I so hope he remembers which stall it was. Oh, who am I kidding? He probably already has it hid away in that bag of his!

It is enjoyable buying gifts, small trinkets, for our friends and I think Alma is going to enjoy that hookah, hers is looking rather worn.

With such a lovely morning spent shopping and the remainder of the afternoon in those ingenious glass tubs set up on the rooftop under the heady grape and citrus vines. Pure sinful luxury. It was difficult to return to reality as the sweet girl shyfully reminded us we had to get dressed for the evening’s events.

And what a dress I wore! Kiril had somehow managed to procure for me a dress made in some far-away land’s traditional garb. Stylish and form-fitted, I was shocked at the neckline that hinted at the swell of my chest! Still, if Kiril deemed it acceptable, I would wear it proudly! Besides, the fit was uncanny!

I slipped some pearls around my throat, and, as was my custom whenever given the opportunity to dress-up, I lined my eyes with kohl, brushed my cheeks with pink, and my lips with red, rose petals. A trick Haleen taught me. I also made several slits in a rose leaf and mashed the leaf until it became pulpy, and then gently rubbed the leaf across the lid of my eye, leaving a slight bright-green hint of colour. I loved the ease of the strappy Roman sandal and tied the lace at the back of my knee.

Suitable dressed and feeling a fashionista, I was rapidly feeling dowdy compared to the eventual winner of the bidding contest, a gracious, but reserved woman with an edge to her. Stunning in red and gold, the woman screamed detached confidence.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. We enjoyed a wonderful supper, hummus! Oh! Such a tasty staple that I have been craving since the last batch I made fell to the floor and was enjoyed by the few pets we now allow to roam our home in Kalmarane. Yes, a delicious supper, conversation and wonderful entertainment. I think everyone thought I had imbibed a bit too much when I jumped up to join in.

Raqs Beledi is a cultural dance Haleen had exposed me to, early. “A wonderful way to keep from gaining love-handles,” she’d smiled.

The dancers were gorgeous in their bedleh and sarongs and had a spare belt which they tied around my hips so I, too, could shake-my-change! It was great fun! And, as all wonderful times, this too must end as the dancers left us to our hookah and refreshing cool drinks.

It is time for business. My husband is determined we sell this scroll to a trustworthy person who has the means to protect it. Although we hope they will not misuse it. I am again informed that I have no right to demand anything once the price has been exchanged.

A cagey discussion ensues; each of the persons our host has brought together for the purpose of obtaining the scroll warily announces a price they are willing to pay. We scoff at their low bids.

“Come friends, we have been led to believe we will be able to retire on the treasure we should obtain. At least thrice your attempts.” I grow weary of the obtuse attitude of the one, and decidedly irritated at the repeated bid of the other. The third, being quickly outbid, nervously ejects himself from the proceedings.

A price is finally agreed upon; ninety-thousand gold pieces! A king’s ransom indeed! Do we share it equally among our party members? After all, Al was not around for much of our struggle… “Stop it!” I admonish myself. “How quickly greed sets in! I have more than I’ll ever need now, and I begrudge a friend his share!? No, no I will not become that person!”

Falling into bed, my arms wrapped seductively about my husband as his strong form pressed against mine. We peeled the layers of fabric deemed necessary for proprieties sake and shunted them away from the heated bliss our skin was becoming. Kiril’s touch sending shivers along my spine, his lips following those rough fingers… the taste of his skin as my lips caressed him… It is a good thing his watch went without incident; how humiliating to be caught red… errr, cheeked? Asleep soon after Kiril and I celebrated privately, I awoke refreshed when Al, I think, knocked on the door handing the guard of the scroll over to me.

Kiril looks so adorable, his hair mussed in sleep. I choose to sit-up, my back resting on the luxuriously padded headboard, writing, while I await morning.

Suddenly, I hear the tinkle of the bells Kiril set at the main entrance as an early warning system. Awakening Kiril, who grabs his weapons and charges down the stairs.

Me, taking the time to cast a spell before following him, bump into both Connie and Al as we stop at the head of the stairs. The light of four candles burn in branches of the overhead chandelier illuminating Kiril in a clash with several ninja-style combatants. We each begin to take actions to eliminate these interloping would-be thieves.

A swift and bloody fight takes place, arrows loosed and spells uttered as we struggle to contain the melee and protect not only ourselves, but our valuable treasure, which Kiril snatched and stuffed into his waistband as he exited our room.

Utterly fascinated, I watch his sinewy muscles roll as Kiril fights, shirtless. The drawstring on his Bedouin-style pants loosening to leave the material hugging his hips, his flat stomach rippling with muscle. Unwilling to capture him again in a web, I loose several spellbinding coils of purple sparkles that flit like butterflies before scarring the hides of these assassins!

A dreadful fight. Al’s cheetah is a clever help, although the blood is quite gory. As it ends we find we have a slew of dead minions and Al is telling us that in passing our host’s room on his way to the tussle, he noticed our host being spirited off via a portal… or was that Connie?

This is going to get interesting…er…

o0o

Fiery Balls...

Dropping my parchment and pen after scribbling that last entry, and standing to face the new threat while Connie was healing Kiril, I loosed two fireballs fast on the heels of Al’s lightning bolts and between us we fried the Gnolls and the hyena’s they were riding in on, leaving only an undetermined number of the rag-tag group on the hill in the distance.

Kiril, itching to be done with these infernal creatures dashed madly toward them, while Al dropped more lightning on them and my own fireballs rained liquid lava on their bodies (in the form of butterflies with sparkly-glittery trails!)

Kiril worked his sinewy body around and slashed the creatures nearest him, making short work of their smelly hides. A contemptuous struggle, where there was only one outcome that was acceptable to us: their deaths. Badly injured and exhausted we dispatched the last of these evil beings, before looting their bodies, adding them to the first massive pile and flaming them, the thick black smoke rising like a chimney into the night sky, the flames a beacon to any for miles around.

After checking our employer and finding him safe, Al assisted in calming the camels and getting them corralled in a small roped off pen under some cool Palms. Connie created water and nourishment for them as the rest of us busied ourselves setting up camp.

In incident around the fire caused our employer to become annoyed with us. We refused to acknowledge he had the scroll that he insisted Alma told him about. It was clear he did not believe us when we denied any knowledge of it and he took to sulking.

We wondered at how we could ease the tension that had sprung up among the party, but Kiril insisted it was his problem; we were hired to do a job, not to become friendly. It was a tense night with each of us taking watch, uneasily.

An alarm was raised in the early morning when it was discovered that our employer had either been abducted, along with his camels and goods, during the night, or he had simply been to angry with us and simply left on his own.

Well, as Connie said, “He hasn’t paid us yet!”

We followed the clear prints in the sand and soon saw the circling of vultures in the distance. Connie’s spyglass told us what we feared: Our employer and his belongings had met with a terrible fate. We rode to where the carnage was strewn.

Connie, finding our employer, bent to check him, shocked to find he was still alive! She immediately used a small healing spell on him, giving him a thread of life to cling to and he repaid her by trying to strangle her!

A few spells and smacks later, we learned that he was a member of the One Trade Traders or something like that, in the excitement, I forgot to write it down, but I do recall visiting the establishment while searching for Haleen in Katapesh. A shady, but respectable looking company that promised they could obtain anything, for a price. We learned little else of value that I recall. Instead of dispatching him to his gawds, we chose to tie him up and bring him along with us to see what else we could learn.

Kiril was very pleased with himself as he repeatedly mumbled, “I knew it! I knew there wasn’t something right about him.”

We choose to rest again at the Oasis before setting off to the city. I can hardly wait to visit the bustling, colourful, smelly, overcrowded… OH! I am looking forward to our visit! That is unless we decide to turn around, the reason for our travel non-existent now…

As we lay, entwined, the afterglow of our lovemaking still warming our hearts I can’t help but think of the rudeness we showed our employer. It was obvious he knew Kiril was fibbing, and he seemed quite …hurt. I was going to say angry, but I think he was hurt. I don’t – didn’t – trust him any more than Kiril. I can’ place my finger on it, but he just seemed too …convenient?

Bending my head I press my lips to Kiril’s; enough of that man. I’m sure there will be more trouble as we move ahead. Besides, I smile twitching my figure down Kiril’s, I have more important things to do right here…

o0o

Camel Hide Satchel anyone...?

I swear I am going to turn this overstuffed walking leather-bag into a toad! We had barely set out from Kalmarane for Kapesh when a dark shadow crossed our path!

Well, we’d gone far enough that the thriving city was a mere speck in the distance, so, a good day’s ride. This shadow spooked the camels, mine heading for home at a good gallop, taking me a good city block before digging in her hooves and refusing to budge! No amount of cajoling nor tugging on the strong hemp reins would budge the blighter!

I guess I can’t blame him – her? As I tugged on the reins, my backside to the party, which were a long way off, I heard a roar that sent shivers along my spine and froze Puitho, (the name I have newly-dubbed THIS camel!) Twirling around my face contorted in a mix of horror and admiration, gasping as I watched the magnificent dark-blue dragon pull from the earth itself, the rumble quivering the sand beneath my feet.

Fear for my husband and our party who were face to face with this roaring hulking beast at my friends, had my fingers knitting the fireball and guiding it’s tiny light behind the beast’s neck before it had cleared the sand. I turned before it exploded, knowing its flight would be exact; I pressed my hands upon my hips. “Now listen here, Puitho, you will move that rump of yours or you will be a wonderful snack for the hungry, flying myth.” It was going to be a battle of the wills. I turned and watched the beast smash my husband, and well, no, that was not happening!

I sent a blinding electrical bolt, the lightning white-hot and, of course, with the distance so great, the dreaded horror has time to leap to the side three times!

With Connie and Kiril both gasping for life, we finally cowed this marvel enough to send it scurrying away, but not before we got some parting shots in. With the dragon gone, no destroyed, we'd be looking over our shoulders for a while, still it was easier to kick Puitho’s rump into gear and I soon re-joined everyone.

The merchant was so pleased that we survived; he offers us choice pickings from the wares he cannot carry now that one of the camels has been sacrificed. He refused to accept no as an answer so I thanked him profusely for the finely hand-knotted silk prayer rug that would grace our modern washroom, the tiles of which were cold on bare feet early in the morning.

Two full-days and a night passed without incident. As we neared the oasis mid-day which was to be our first true resting spot, the stench of death was strong. Sending both Blaze and Al’s cheetah out to bring us back information after Kiril spied many dead forms and a small glint in the hills, we waited their intel.

They brought back news that was grim. Uncountable dead Gnolls being scavenged by the pecking order of the desert; the cheetah brings back a bloody hand, and, after praising the beast, Al hands a shaft of green stone he pries from the severed hand, to me. A few minutes of study and I smile, handing it back to him, “It’s a wand of Lesser Restoration. The key word is etched into the jade, on the side. I think there’s about fourteen or fifteen uses remaining.”

Through the cheetah we get the impression there are live Gnolls hiding in the hills.

Deciding to torch the decaying bodies, we drag them to a makeshift pyre and Kiril uses his oil and flint to set the decomposing Gnolls alight. We are still choosing our places to bed for the night when this giant ugly worm like creature pounces from the ground, rising like a million galaxies above us, catching Connie off guard and ripping into Kiril.

Tired flies out the window as our adrenaline kicks in and we fight firing deadly spells and slicing and dicing until we are a rag-tag group, barely breathing; the beast screams a mournful bail and is sucked back into the ground a fireball filling its mouth exploding its head in a gory display of raining hamburger from the slaughter house.

Blood dripping from deep wounds mixing with the salty rivers of sweat liberally coating our skin, washing the sand and grabbing more we gasp. Gulping great lungfuls of hot desert air we lean on tired and sore limbs, raising water skeins to our lips, swallowing the elixir of The God.

A sudden noise alerts our attention and turning, we see a number of Gnolls bearing down on us. “Oh, for the love of…” Connie exclaims. “Okay, healing! Quickly!” she mutters.

My first thought is the merchant. Is he safe?

My second is Kiril. Is he able to fight? Has he been healed?

My third thought is, “Oh carp! Have we been set up?”

My fourth thought brings a wide smile to my face. Al can frizzle these chaps with that wonderful lightning of his...

o0o

Deadly Butterflies...

It seemed a good idea at the time. While everyone was heading toward the fire, I was concerned that it had been set as a ruse. Tugging my husband’s hand we swiftly hurried to the opposite side of the city, my proposal was that while the town was fighting the fire, someone or something could sneak in the unguarded gates and cause mischief.

And, it appears I was correct as we hustled along we soon saw two large shadowy figures slip around a corner and, by the time we reached the corner, they were about halfway along the street peering into windows and looking the buildings in this sector up and down inquisitively.

We also noted they were Gnolls sitting atop those hyena-dog-like things they rode. Annoyed at being awoken while enjoying a particularly happy-dream, with these creatures as the probable culprits did not endear them to me – in fact, quite the opposite.

I tapped my husband’s shoulder and he grinned, stepping aside as my hands began their delicate pattern the energy flowing into them as I spoke the words aloud, “A piece of this; a bit of that; pierce your hides; kersplat!”

Astonishing the interlopers a golden beam streaks toward them. Before they can comprehend the fireball explodes against them, the force hurling one Gnoll off his hyena-steed and bashing his body against the stone wall, silencing his howl forever.

The other screeching as the flames licked his hide.

Kiril then wrought his magic as his blade found vulnerable spots and made good use of this knowledge.

They attempt to fight back, wimpy creatures that they are, and I wove my fingers again flinging them forth, overwhelming the creatures with four purple glitter-sparkly butterfly (mental picture courtesy THE gawd of Legacy, Devon…) beams flashing toward them. Before they can comprehend the illusion shatters against them, the force hurling one Gnoll off his hyena-steed and bashing his body against the stone wall, silencing his howl forever.

The other shrieking as the missiles find their target despite the incredibly swift leap to the left. I couldn’t help the giggle that erupted briefly from my lips; the whole two or three seconds seeming surreal. 

My husband then swiftly put blade to one, and we struggled with them for mere seconds before dispatching them. Breathing deeply, then wishing I hadn’t, the stench of these unwashed creatures utterly putrid, I suggested searching the bodies before removing them to an area where I could burn their carcasses.

Kiril, my beloved stood guard, lest any more creep out from the shadows while I emptied their pouches, discovering useful items as well as a folded chunk of skin.

It tugged at my curious nature and I opened the soft leathery type material. It only took one glance to have my heart stop. “Kiril! Come, we have to get home, now!” I grabbed his arm, shoving the drawing under his nose briefly as I practically dragged him toward our lovely home. I don’t think he got a good look at it before I crushed it in my hand shoving it in my pocket. “It’s a crude drawing of our house! Someone is looking for us or our home, and I don’t think they’re making a social visit.”

We reached our block as Connie and Al returned, covered in soot. Explaining quickly, they assisted us in doing a systematic search of our home and the grounds, finding nothing. I was still too concerned and suggested we move into our large meeting quarters until this was sorted.

In the morning the captain of the guard paid a social call. I took offense at his patronizing attitude. Well, he tried really hard to keep it a social call, and we offered coffee, a new bean we discovered soaking in a vat of pure water. After many experiments, the only thing it seemed good for was roasting, grinding and mixing with spice before filtering boiling water over and allowing it to steep for a good long time, producing a flavourful brew. He seemed pleasantly surprised and enjoyed a large mug of the blackish liquid infused with honey and thick goat’s cream. For Alma, my husband, Connie, and, yes, even our new friend Al’s sake, I pushed my dislike aside.

After he left, Kiril, Connie and Al went to see the merchant who was seeking guards for his trip to Kapesh.

Oh how excited I am! I remember the immense metropolis fondly and fearfully. It was massive, but vibrant! Colourful, noisy, smelly and fast-paced. Vastly different than our experiences for the past few years. I looked forward to visiting the bazaar in the upper half, and maybe, just maybe I’d have time to visit the Magic College!

My mind totally readying for this trip, I returned to our house and began to pack, emptying the dust from the last adventures, refilling wine skeins and the such. Making sure to visit the bank to withdraw some funds to have as free a pocket as needed in the big city! Oh, how I hope the journey is pleasant I think, filling the copper tub Kiril and a few artisans hammered out. The ingenious plumbing system, drawing the water through pipes until warm before flowing freely into the tub still amazed me…

o0o

Good riddance...

So we finally have left the House of the Beast behind us. Good riddance. And besides having the pleasure of seeing four Gnolls fleeing in fear

from us as we departed, we were also able to find three more escaped slaves and escorted them back to our town.

I did have another encounter with a magnificent Giant Eagle. It seemed aware of the cleansing of the place and even shared some fresh fish as a thank you. For my part, I am thrilled if this makes it safer for the young nestlings of these incredible, noble, and intelligent creatures.

The six day journey back was uneventful, something I am grateful for. We have had quite enough adventure for awhile. I must say, I was quite surprised at the changes to Kelmarane during our relatively short time away. The town had continued to grow in prodigious leaps. Indeed, we were no longer the Captains of the Guard. Almah says it is because we are better suited as operatives that can travel at a moments notice to handle problems outside of the city. I hope that that is all it is. Without our services, and the blood we have shed, not even to mention companions that have fallen along the way, this wouldn't be a town of civilized folk, but still a hive for banditry.

Almah is also quite interested in the Scroll. Perhaps too much so. I would hope that this isn't the case. Spring, my beloved Spring, was able to with the use of more of her Arcane sorcery, decipher that the Scroll is actually a map. But to where is still somewhat of a mystery, and as to what it would lead one to is also an unknown. But Almah also says she knows someone in Katapesh that has studied lore about this item, and will write a letter of introduction for us if we wish to delve into its secrets more fully. It appears that we do so wish it...

o0o

We're HOME!

My beloved Kiril has got a bee in his turban. He is carrying that scroll very close to him and is refusing to allow even Alma the opportunity to examine it; something to do with the spirit that is within his sword.

He knows what he is up to, so, while it may seem that he is being obstinate about releasing it, I have faith in his judgment, and, I trust that Connie and our new friend, Al, will have patience and belief in my husband’s intuition.

I suppose, with the cost so high, and his near death experiences, he has earned the right to have a little mystery surrounding him.

Yes, the journey was a ruse, and we are delighted to have turned the tables on that Zay…Zayfid? Imagine, a Jinni unable to locate and acquire a simple papyrus.

But what a difference a few weeks makes! We’ve been gone only three weeks, twenty five days at most, and the town is beginning to resemble a major city! (And, indeed, Alma informs us she is going to have Kalmarane rival Kapesh as a trading centre, “Minus the shipping trade,” she sighed disappointedly.)

Still it’s exciting! The tents, and bright colours! “Oh, how I miss the colours! It’s so wonderful to see the city growing. But, along with that comes the pitfalls – thieves; corruption; murders.”

o0o

A bump in the road...

Having found our goal, it's time to get this done. We, get ready to make our trek back to the inevitable clash with Zayafid. Arriving back at the chamber with the fruit trees, we rest.

After we ascend and then arriving at the resealed portal to the main corridors, my beloved again casts her sand scouring spell as I yell out "Open!" It works and we gain egress from this hidden section.

And what do we see? Two hulking Unchosen. This meeting is not exactly cordial and soon erupts in conflict. At the end of this lay two very dead brutes.

Unfortunately, the fight caused enough noise to draw in more threats. The threats in this case involved two normal, though thoroughly repugnant Gnolls, which are accompanied by a pair of monstrous Hyenadons.

This conflict is brutal, but in the end no more of consequence than the last. Yes, we took some damage, but the beasts are now no longer an obstacle.

But of course the main event is next. Having no appreciable time to gather our breaths, Zayafid makes his appearance. And once again, a fight could not be avoided. He demanded the Scroll, I refused. He demanded again, and seeing no end to this impasse but one, I attack.

Now we have a true threat. But he too, falls. He nearly killed my wife, my beautiful Spring, but perhaps this is what powered my final blow, as it nearly cut him in twain.

So now, we have but to heal, and navigate our way out of this so aptly named House of the Beast..

o0o

Spider's do NOT have nine legs...

As if destroying an octopus like creature wasn’t bad enough, which, mind you, nearly destroyed US! Thank the stars for my newly acquired ability to call that wonderful searing bolt of electricity and control its direction to burst upon the evil not upon us.

I would have torn it apart with my bare hands if I’d had to. Watching helpless as it squeezed Kiril, my beloved, right in front of me? Well, let’s say it got off easy only being killed – for what it tried to do to Kiril, I would like to have planned a long and painful death.

I’m not sure if the wisdom I felt at the touch of this new dude, Al, worked very well, where my husband’s life is concerned, I tend to become extremely focussed.

When that creature exploded, releasing my love I almost fainted with relief. I wanted to both scold Kiril and hold onto him forever! I’m sure he knew that as I squeezed him tighter than any old Ganesha could. My tears wetting his chest.

Anyway, as if that wasn’t bad enough, we enter the next room and discover a freakin’ spider symbol with nine! NINE, not eight like an NORMAL spider, not this depiction shows NINE freaking hairy bent legs.

Sorry. I apologise as without thinking, just instinctually, I toss a web up in the tunnel with the symbol hovering menacingly above the entrance.

I hate spiders. Don’t tell me I live in the climates spiders enjoy most. I have a deal with them and their overlords, if they stay out of my way, I promise not to step on them, or, more truthfully, I promise not to have Kiril step on them. But, well, we’ve all seen the instant Ninja – you know, the one who walks down a path a spider has strewn a web across? Instant Ninja, just add spider’s web.

I’m sure my husband was frustrated. I think probably Connie and Al might have been as well, but all I envisioned was a giant hairy spider waltzing out of that tunnel, and I did NOT want to be spider food. That multi-armed freak show in the other room was spider enough for me.

I didn’t even want to enter the other tunnels, but, well, the pesky quest we had to complete in exchange for Connie’s life, was incentive enough and we strolled through it. I say through because we wound up, by going straight, back in the same room we started from.

With much cajoling, I was finally convinced to remove the web I strung across the opening and we proceeded down the tunnel, which, apparently is filled with dead bodies. Sacrifices to the Spider King? I know not, but that sarcophagus, that scared me a lot! I though tiny spider swarms were going to erupt when Kiril slid the heavy lid off and onto the floor with a loud thud.

My husband is so clever. Inside the coffin was the very scroll we sought. Now, how to appear as if we are returning it when in fact, we are definitely not…

*~*~*

Boo...

We find a chamber at the end of the corridor that lead from the mystical garden . In the chamber is a a cage like inverted bell shaped structure made up of stone bars. There are also strange runes seemingly carved into the floor of this chamber. The bands have plenty of room for individuals to pass through them. Spring does just that.And as she steps in, the ground begins to shake. Now what?, I wonder. Also, due to her study of the tome that we had acquired earlier, Spring believed this chamber to be one known as the Pit of Screaming Ghosts. An ominous name to be sure. 

Calling on those flashes of memory I see Vardishal casting a wind based spell and a opening appearing in the floor. I pass this information on to my wife and after casting an appropriate spell that contains elements of both air and earth, the image from those memories is in fact before us. A stairway goes down for some distance, into darkness.

Lighting a torch, we descend, So, a room full of treasure. Well that's the view we see as we reached the bottom of this long stairway. I cannot believe that the treasure is real. Yet I am not sure. But though my inability to see beyond this wealth is shared by Connie, not so by either Spring or Al. They claim that it is but an illusion. As this dovetails with my hunch, I have no problem with this. They say that there are pillars that rise out of a water filled room. I am instructed where to walk to move on the pillars, and while I initially progress well, not so with Connie. Our Priestess of Iomedae finds her footing somewhat off, and a foot slips into the water. Now two things happen. Neither are welcome. First, hidden by the water is a green slime that starts to dissolve her metal footwear, and doing some bit of damage to her flesh as well. But while she deals with that, The rest of us are being confronted by the attack of four ghostly figures. I see that the name of this place is warranted.

So while Connie tries to remove her boot clumsily using her shield so as to avoid spreading the caustic slime to more flesh damaging areas , the rest of us fight the moaning Undead. Fireballs and flashing steel from my wife and myself are used, while Al changes to a eagle. Spring's magic is effective as is my magical blade Tempest. But our newly added party member finds that, in this case anyway, his shaping ability is less than effective, We find out something else too. As I slay the first one, if that is, you can kill that which is already dead, it explodes in a minor dispersal in damaging energy. And yet a second one is destroyed, once again causing all of us to face the energy damage before Connie is finally able to bring about her link to the Divine and force the last two to move to the far end of the room. Now that they are restricted to the far end of the room, we are able to eliminate the threat of these creatures and without suffering the damaging energy explosion of the their demise.

Further good news, the fireball apparently burned up most, possibly all, though I don't want to test that surmise, of the slime. But on a more ominous note, the touch of those ghosts harmed not only the body, but for some of us, but also drained the life force itself. But Connie says that she will be able to remedy that with spells that she has available, after resting. 

So we move out of this chamber and take up residence outside the closed doors of the next room, which a quick look appears to be some kind of temple. The floor is composed of sand. and on a pedestal appears to be a statue of some many tentacled large beast.We decline to investigate at this time. As a matter of necessity, we camped outside the doors long enough for two rest periods. One for Connie to pray for the required restorative spells to correct the spiritual damage suffered from the hands of the Undead, and the second for her to pray for spells more suited to other possible, and more likely threats.

Now we are getting ready to pass these doors. What awaits I wonder...

o0o

More from the babbling brook of verbiage...

Well, that was one wicked fight! I can’t believe I fried Val – again! This time though he didn’t recover. I feel so worthless. I don’t know for certain that my spells killed the proud monk, but his crispy corpse gives me considerable verification. I may need to take a sabbatical – I don’t know if I’m worthy to be a sorceress – killing my companions, and all. Maybe my husband is right to despair of me using the incorrect incantations...


When Connie also succumbed to the vile beast’s onslaught I thought we were goners; but when it attacked my husband, I saw red. Taking action and tossing whatever I had left at the beast, forcing it to fall and wither, but that Zayfid – when he entered, clapping his hands? Well, let’s say he is fortunate I was so deprived of useful spells or his soul would have exploded in the intensity of my blitz.

I never liked, nor trusted the foul liar, and now my senses have been validated. I can’t wait to rip his limbs from his torso and watch as he dies an agonising death. Currently he wants us to retrieve this scroll? For him? His offer to resurrect Connie or Val in exchange for Kiril’s and my word that we will seek, find and bring the scroll to him leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

I bristle as my husband, without discussing it with me first, tells this foul devil that he will accept the terms. I turn to my husband, hands on my hips as Zay works his invocation over Connie, giving her breath and animation once again.

While Zay does his magicks I see the glint in my husband’s eye and know he has no intention of handing over the scroll. I wrap my arms about his figure, planting a big kiss on his lips, then, as I hear Connie scoff and tell us to get a room, I turn and run to her, hugging her fiercely.

She is baffled and her eyes widen as she hears the terms of her resurrection; she’s all for running her axe through this bastard, but agrees to adhere to the terms. To show he’s not an all bad fellow, Zay provides a well laden table and encourages us to rest well before we begin our journey. “Take all the time you need,” says he. I’m tempted to stay for a week or more to piss him off, but, alas, even I cannot stand to hold a grudge.

We rest well, eat hearty and rest some more. Connie still is ashen in the morning, so we inform Zay we will not be travelling this day. As we are partaking of our breakfast a commotion in the outer hall causes us to swing our heads and moments later a large bear comes loping into this cavernous space, foamy spittle across its muzzle and blood between its claws.

Unwilling to have our breakfast interrupted, as I am standing near the door at the time, I wallop the creature on its cranium and it stumbles to a prone position on the floor in a shimmer of dazzling glitter the man now laying there rubbing his head exclaims, “’Ere now, wud ya go an’ do that fer?”

The words barely from his lips when my husband’s blade lay at his throat, “Who are you and what is your business here?” he growls, his free arm nearly knocking me over as he pushes me behind him. (I tell you, he is protective...)

The man seems nonplussed. “I was captured by these Gnolls and have just escaped. Who are you, or,” his eyes go to the blade at his throat, “am I not permitted that courtesy before you run me through.”

“Oh, Kiril, let him up, he seems harmless.”

I know it is only my pleading tone that allows Kiril to let his guard down and permit the fellow to sit up and join us.

A discussion reveals two things: First? This fellow has a strange accent, or voice; like he’s speaking through a straw. And, second, this Zayfid is a right ass. I welcome Al to our group, as does Connie and, begrudgingly, my husband, Kiril.

We talk for several hours, breaking only to eat, use the latrine or rest. As morning rolls around, Zay peers his ugly mug in the room, “You start today, yes?”

We agree that, yes, today we start to seek the scroll he is so interested in and willing to go to such great lengths to obtain. Whether we will be successful is any ones’ guess, but what I do know is, Kiril has no more intentions on giving the scroll to Zay than do I. We shall see if we will be able to withstand the gifted wizard. He has chosen to let us fend for our own breakfast this morn. I am all for Gnoll shish kebab, but alas; I fear it would turn to food poisoning in our stomachs.

We enjoy our hard tack and dry cheese washed down with some pretty potent wine before setting off, the new fellow following me as I follow Kiril and Connie brings up our rear. Zay has control of the Gnolls for now. He has promised to have them stay out of our way.

He’d better make good on his word.

The hidden underground garden was a pure delight, even excusing the crickets we needed to rid the place of. I suppose we should have requested a Gnoll troop to follow along - better their deaths than ours.

o0o

Tricked into doing the dirty work...

So the huge Unchosen moves in towards us and combat is engaged. Using my bow, I put a well aimed shot into the beast's chest, but his armor deflects my arrow effortlessly. Val, apparently not considering the likely actions that Spring will take, moves in to engage the brute, and misses the strike he attempts.  Then my beloved does what she is doing so well now, she encases both combatants in a sticky, obscuring mass of webbing. Poor Val, once again, he seems to be as a fly caught helplessly in the spider's trap. Connie. For her part, calls upon the power of her Deity. 

Not being able to see or get to our foe due to the web, I pull, and then quaff a potion of healing as I was still sorely wounded from the previous encounter with the gigantic vermin we had slain. I feel a little better.

Now I don't know what happens inside that mass of silken webs, but next I hear a sickening sound of something cutting deeply into flesh, as if a butcher was cutting into a cows carcass. This is followed by silence from Val, but a deep chuckle from the voice of the creature. And as Val fights primarily unarmed and the Gnoll-thing had a greataxe, I fear the worse for Val.

I don't have a target yet, but I'm prepared. But soon enough the target is revealed when Spring releases flames from her hands, causing the webs to burst into flames. The slightly singed Unchosen is exposed, but then so is the horribly hacked corpse of Val. I hope my mela doesn't think her flames killed him, as it is plan to see from my eyes, which has already seen too much of the cruel damage that weapons can do to mere flesh, that the wound that Val has suffered from what must have been the axe, would have been a mortal blow. 

Then Connie moves in to engage it directly. While she does strike it, it seems to have minimal effect. I then move behind it, striking it deeply and soundly in its back. Then Spring casts some damaging bolts of force at it, but again, he seems to ignore the damage. Then it swings at Connie, doing incredible, horrible damage. Connie falls, nearly cut in twain. That quickly, our party is reduced to just my wife and myself.

Once again, Spring casts her magic, but this time she casts a new spell upon herself. Bless her, she is trying to protect herself. A renewed number of copies of herself, and in greater number than previously , are there to confuse the eye.

In desperation I move to get in front of our foe. I must draw its attention away from Spring, but my tumble goes awry, and it strikes me as I pass by, hitting me a grievous blow. My wounds are accumulating to a critical level. I fear one more blow, and I will fail to protect my wife.

I swing at this twisted mutant, and... miss! Wait, no, I did connect after all, and well. It was that Tempest passed through so cleanly that no opposition to my swing was felt. It wasn't until I saw the blood spill that I realized that I had indeed hit it, and strongly. But not well enough, as it not only still stood, but took this chance to attack. 

But he doesn't attack me, instead it lunged at my Spring! And even with five false images intermingling with her actual self, this thing managed to land a strike unerringly upon my beautiful bride. But though brought almost to death's door from the blow, she is not down. And in return, she once again lash's out with her magic, inflicting yet more damage to this horrible caricature of a Gnoll. 

Now I move once again, moving this time flawlessly past it, to stand beside Spring, and I bring Tempest around in a arcing strike, A hit! And a powerful one at that. This time, I managed to hit something vital, and it falls, It won't be rising again.

I quickly grab the next to last healing potion that I have, thrusting into my wife's hands. I breath a sigh of relief as the elixir heals practically all of her wounds in a blink of my eyes.

Then we hear... clapping?

At the entrance that the brute entered the room by, is a orange haired human, or at least humanoid, where the now deceased monster first made his presence known. He is clapping and telling us “Well done”. He slowly approaches us, and I ease my safe somewhat in front of Spring.

“And you are?” I ask. 

“We have met before, but I wasn't wearing my own face then.” he replies. “I am Zayfid. And you killed the Carrion King, Well done!”

Ah the traveler. So should I then assume that this was all a ruse for use to do your dirty work for you?”

And he acknowledges that this indeed the case, and continues with “I have the ability to bring back one of your companions, but will only do so if you agree to find and bring something to me. Do you agree?”

Remembering the drawing of the scroll case on that bit of cloth that was found earlier, I immediately make an intuitive jump and ask “Do I take it we need to find a scroll?”

As he agrees that yes. Its a scroll that must be found, he asks again if we, I, agree. My wife gives me a look that says watch myself, and she has most likely has no intention of giving him anything without him first making good on his promise.

“I think, since we took care of your problem, that you already owe us.” I state. He does not agree, asking again if I agree.

“I will try to find this scroll, and bring it back to you, but you bring back the plate mail wearing female before I start. And we will need to rest for awhile and regain our strength as well.” I finally say while gesturing to Connie's body. I've known her longer, and felt closer in friendship with her. Besides she was the one to say Spring and my vows of marriage...

“Agreed” replies Zayfid as he brings forth something resembling a gem, which he then crushes as part of some spell, and Connie sits up, whole of body. Helping her up, I then move to embrace my wife. Zayfid, before departing, states that he will feed us, and with the help of more magic, creates a full, if somewhat bland meal, complete with water. He will also post a guard to assure we don't try and sneak away. As he is leaving, he puts a hat on and his form changes to that of the scrawny Gnoll I had first seen running out the door when the Carrion King made his entrance.

I whisper to Spring “I promised to bring the scroll to him if I find it, I never agreed to give it to him.” She smiles, nods affirmatively, and whispers back “I know.”

As the three of us eat, I fill in the new twist for Connie's benefit. Including the whispered statement about not actually agreeing to hand it over.

We move to a cleaner, non corpse ridden part of this large room to sleep and regain our wits and strength.

Then an odd thing happens the next day. A brown bear wanders into the room from a different entrance than that which is guarded by our Gnoll guard. Could we escape? Perhaps the others, but I will uphold my word to find this scroll. 

Anyway, back to the bear. Spring had been wandering past the doorway as the beast enters, and in a surprised reaction, she swings her staff and thunks it firmly on the head! And surprise the “bear” shifts into a make elf and blurts out “Ouch! Why'd you do that?”

After a initial suspicious meet and greet, he says his name is Alri Lafrallin, and he is a Druid who was captured while sleeping in the mountains. He shifted into a bear when he was finally in the presence of just a single guard and managed to wander in here. After explaining what we are presently up to, and who we are, Alri, or Al, as he says we should refer to him, agrees to join up with us, at least for the present. There is, after all, power in numbers. I also made it a point to introduce , just so there would be no potential misunderstandings,the beautiful Half Elven Sorceress by my side as my wife!

We rest a second rest period, and now are healed, albeit with several more scars to reflect our experiences, and our ready to start on the search. Soon Zayfid shows up, not seeming in the least that we picked up a new member for are little troupe, seemingly out of thin air, to guide us to where he believes we should be starting our search.

I almost immediately feel a pull to a certain area, and searching, a hidden stone lever in the apparent natural stone floor of this chamber. Detecting no trap, I pull the lever, and a grating accompanies the opening in the floor that reveals a staircase descending into a lower, lighted area.

Descending, I find fruit trees. Fruit trees underground? With no sun? How very strange. Yet the air is fresh, the fruit smells delicious, and a pristine, clear pool of water resides in the center. There are also four stone statues, each at a cardinal direction around the pool. I call the rest down.

We sample the fruit and verify that they are indeed delectable, and the water is fresh and pure. But we have mere moments to enjoy the repast before a new threat is thrust upon us. From the mouths of the statues flaming ash spews forth, and with it materializes a insectoid creature from each statue. So a brief skirmish ensues. Thankfully they aren't quite as dangerous to us as their appearance suggested they would be. Its a relief to not be hard pressed in every encounter...

o0o

Giving Gnolls the finger...

After a restful night back above ground, I rise like usual to perform my exercises.

After a bit, Val rises to perform his on morning rituals. Shortly after that, both of the Ladies are up and about.

But what is this, Connie has quite an interesting new blade. After wakening from her day long trance, it seems that she was communing with her Deity, and was gifted with a special blade. It is named Iomedae's Finger. How trite. Who new that the God's had such a droll sense of humor. giving the finger to your enemies, indeed. I wonder if they will "get" the point or not?

Anyway, we eat, then head back down to take up where we left off. In a particularly dark room, we stumble, literally stumble, across some sleeping Unchosen. Not one, or even two, but a full handful. That's right, five of the horrid twisted creatures. I decide to try to even the odds before they could rise in all their numbers.

Normally, I would not act so, for there is little Honor in slaying sleeping beings. But these corrupted and evil aberrations are entirely to dangerous to extend such niceties. No, this is survival, not honorable warfare.

So I strike and slay one while it slept. Then a second. And then a third. Alas the third wasn't killed outright. My strike did terrible damage to it, but it wasn't fatal.

So another two strikes are required to kill it off, but its screams of rage and pain awaken the remaining two. Then a general melee is entered into, where the others are dispatched, with just one hit, though a fearsome one being taken by one of us. Val is struck by one, but after the battle, Connie heals his damaged body with her gift of curative magic.

Next, we come across a room that appears it may be the place where the Unchosen may just have been created, for there is no way those things are natural. This suspicion is further backed up by numerous books and scrolls that picture various anatomical drawings, and it is assumed text. But the language is not able to be read at this time, so that will wait for a later time. So for now, I stuff a this material into my back pack, as my fairest wishes to study them at some future time and place.

Several potions were discovered here also, and my love's spell of magical detection confirmed they were magical in nature.

So we take a temporary pause to catch our breath, and to have a quick meal to provide us with sustenance to continue are exploration in this place.

Oh, I almost forgot. I had a strange flashback. But the memory wasn't mine, but that of the entity that I inherited when the mold joined with me. I saw an orange haired male that I called Zayfid in my vision. I know not why I saw him, or what it portends. but there had to be a reason.

I suppose that this also will come to light. I just pray to the Gods that this knowledge, when it finally is able to be understood, doesn't cause us harm.

I'm also guessing that this House of the Beast wss not built by Gnolls. They're barely intelligent enough to put on loin cloths, so a building like this, nope not seeing it. So the name is something I would think was from the actual builders from the past.  

And I now think, since we now know that there is no army marching on our city, that we have been tricked into killing off the Carrion King, or at least thinning out his ranks to let someone else take over. Or maybe its all about this scroll?

I don't know, but I don't really need much of an excuse to eradicate more Gnolls, now do I? I am not as fervent in this as Connie, but I am also far from adverse to the concept. If this is a trick, all they really needed to do was ask...

Moving on, we discover an area that appears to have been excavated fairly recently. Broken handles for what I believe would be for picks and shovels, as well as the occasional broken pick head are seen laying among the rubble. A tattered piece of linen is also discovered in the debris, and a drawing of a scroll case is on it. What they are seeking perhaps?

Shortly after we come across a large room, that holds two Gnolls and two Hyenadon, a viscous form of Dire Hyena. So my beautiful bride casts another Web spell, encasing all four in its sticky folds, which also blocks our view of them, and them us. I take up a position with my bow, waiting to see if any break free. A few moments later, Spring follows here Web with a ball of magical flames. When the blast of the fireball clears, both of the Gnolls lay dead, and both Canines are worse for the wear, although one seems to have fared better than the other. It also appears that Val might have been a bit to close to  flaming explosion as his robes are smoking and he no longer has his eyebrows. Poor fellow, he seems to constantly be an unintended victim of my wife's magical powers. 

Val, Connie and myself then all rush forward to finish the large beasts off. And soon enough, they are indeed lying next to their former handlers in death.

Now we progress and find another room with two things of note. First a throne. I can guess who normally sits upon it. And the other is a large, deep pit. A pit that has a rather disturbing skittering noise coming from it, Peering in, a huge centipede like creature is spied. About 18' long, layered in a bony armor like chitin and a vile stinger at its rear, this is one vermin that I would just prefer not to meet face to face.

But alas, it apparently noticed us, and the walls of the pit are of no concern for it as it quickly makes its way towards us.

I loose an arrow into it as it crests the lip of the pit. It must not of liked that as it then bites savagely into my side. I feel a coldness in the wound. Poison! But my constitution must have been able to shrug it off, as no further effect happens from the wound. Now its time for Tempest to do its work. Now Connie attacks with spell and blade, and Val with bare handed bravado, my Spring with Spell, and I, I strike deeply with Tempest. We also find out that in attacking this thing, it has a reactive spin defense that tries to impale anyone that gets close enough to attack in melee. I am able to dodge them, thankfully, as I am also able to avoid the flames from another fireball that explodes under the monster. Thankfully, my next blow was significant enough to cut the nasty vermin in twain.

Now it would seem to be a good time to catch our breath, let Connie work her curative magics, and regroup a bit. Well, at this time two humanoids enter from another entrance, one a huge Unchosen and another apparently a normal Gnoll. What alerted us to their entrance was a loud voice from one of them that said “What have you done?” I am unsure which of the two asked this question, one which has a rather obvious answer I would say. And the Gnoll quickly darts back through the entryway and out of sight. Oh, how lovely!

o0o